Robert Brownlee Welsh, who photographed many of Charlotte’s brides, families, and individuals, died January 3, 2025, with a legacy that included World War II service in the Battle of the Bulge that he detailed in an autobiographical book, Two Foes to Fight. He was 102. He celebrated his last birthday on November 7 with festivities that lasted a week, including one at his Sunday school class at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, where he had been a member since his senior year in high school and taught Sunday school classes for decades.
Robert Welsh was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and lived in Oklahoma City and Tulsa before he finished his senior year at Charlotte’s Central High School. At Davidson College, he joined ROTC, which led to his being commissioned a second lieutenant in 1942 and joining the 87th Infantry of General George Patton’s Third Army in October 1944. In December, Bob saw his first action in the Saar Valley along the German border, then fought as a Tiger Patrol leader at the Battle of the Bulge. Over the next four months, he marched across Germany to Plauen on the Czechoslovakian border.
But Germany wasn’t all fighting and heroics. When deployed in the US Zone during the Occupation of Germany, he met the smiling face of the librarian, Marie-Luis “Marlis” Osmers, who conversed in perfect English to win his heart that led—after rolls of red tape—to their marriage and the birth of the first child, Katherine. He loved to tell the story of paying the German doctor two cartons of cigarettes to deliver Katherine—cigarettes being more valuable than money in post-World War II Germany.
Discharged, he finished at Davidson, then interrupted his studies at the University of North Carolina Law School to begin his photography career to provide for his growing family. Son Robert, Jr. was born in 1950. Robert Jr. was struck down by a major stroke at 22 and never fully recovered. Robert Sr. took a significant role in maintaining a loving life for Robert Jr. until his death at 66, going to lunch with him daily and keeping Robert Jr’s love of playing games alive by playing Cribbage with him each week.
Over the years, Bob Welsh’s award-winning wedding and personal portraits have graced the walls of many Charlotte homes. He and his family loved to play golf at Carmel Country Club, and in the 1970s, Bob was the program photographer for the Kemper Open at Quail Hollow Country Club. He and Marlis also enjoyed skiing and were early members of the Charlotte Ski Bees. Bob taught skiing at Beech Mountain (NC) Ski School when needed.
In retirement, Robert became active in the 87th Infantry Division and Battle of the Bulge Veteran’s Association, attending meetings and giving speeches about his war exploits. Retirement also meant time to paint landscapes, portraits, and introspective canvasses, which were used for the covers of two of his other books: Bob’s Theology, poems about his unique perspective of Christianity, and Mystical Enigma (plays about Biblical Scripture, one of which was performed in an adult Sunday school class at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in 2015).
When Katherine, Robert’s and Marlis’ daughter, was entering college in 1964, a third child entered the Welsh household, George, named for Robert’s father and who aided Robert in publishing three books in his last 18 months of life.
In addition to Katherine of Rock Hill, SC, and George (Jennifer) of Baton Rouge, LA, Mr. Welsh leaves behind a grandson, James Allen (Jace) Crockett (Carrie) of Lynchburg, VA; grandchildren, Ryan Welsh, Nathan Welsh, Elly Welsh, and Max Welsh of Baton Rouge; and one great-grandchild, Elizabeth Crockett of Lynchburg.
A funeral service will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, January 18, at Myers Park Presbyterian Church. Memorials may be made to Myers Park Presbyterian Church, 2501 Oxford Place, Charlotte, NC 28207, and Levine & Dickinson Hospice House at Southminster through VIA Partners, P. O. Box 470408, Charlotte, NC 28247.