Welch Funeral Home

Robert D. Welch, Funeral Director, Owner
Michael D. Heilman, Funeral Director
Bob joined the Welch Funeral Home in 1967 after graduating from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He also graduated from Ford City High School in 1964 and attended Waynesburg College. He is married to Marlene D. (French) Welch, whom is employed by the Armstrong County Planning Commission. Bob is a member and Elder of the First United Presbyterian Church of Ford City, and was an active member of Ford City Hose Company #1 for 16 years. Robert has been certified as a Grief Counselor by the Grief Recovery Institute of Los Angeles, California.

Michael joined Bob in November 2008. He is a 1997 graduate of Ford City High School, a 2001 graduate of St. Vincent College, and a 2002 graduate of Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 2003. Michael is the son of David and Theresa (Smerick) Heilman, and is an active member of Christ, Prince of Peace Church, Ford City.

Bob and Mike continue the Welch Funeral Home tradition of providing every family with a meaningful and personalized service. At Welch’s, we consider it an honor and privilege to serve your family. We believe that every person deserves respect and dignity, and that every family deserves care and compassion.

Richard (Dick) Carli
Dick joined the Welch Funeral Home staff in August 2001. He worked and managed Browns Boot Shop in Kittanning for 32 years. He continued his management and sales career with Antioch Publishing Company where he retired in 1993. Dick is married to Grace F. (Pore) Carli; she is retired from Armstrong County Memorial Hospital business office. They have four children. Dick is a graduate of Kittanning High School and is a member of the Latin American Society in Ford City. He is also a member of St. Lawrence Church, Cadogan where he serves as Eucharistic Minister and Lector.

Arthur T. (Ted) Breuer, Jr.
Ted joined the Welch Funeral Home staff after his retirement in March 2002, from Allegheny Ludlum Corporation where he served as corporate manager of safety and health. Ted is married to Janet E. (Salankiewicz) Breuer who is a retired schoolteacher from Ford City High School. They have one daughter, Dr. Gwen Breuer who is a physician at West Penn Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA. Ted was an active member of the Ford City Fire Department where he served for 30 years as a firefighter, EMT/medic, county and state fire, Hazmat and EMS instructor. He is also active in civic organizations. Ted attended St. Mary’s School and graduated from Ford City High School, Clarion University and Penn State. He is a member of Christ, Prince of Peace parish. (Formerly St. Mary’s).

Ronald E. Dillard (Ron)
Ron joined the Welch Funeral Home organization in January 2003. Ron retired as a Senior Administrator of Human Resources from the former General Public Utilities Company. Ron is married to Shirley (Bowser) Dillard. Shirley is employed by Charming Shoppes, Inc., as a Retail Associate. We are the proud parents of five daughters, and seven grandchildren. Ron has been and is very active with several Non-Profit organizations serving on the Board of Directors. He is a member of the Western Pennsylvania Safety Council, and the Ford City Borough Zoning Board serving as Chairman and Vice Chairman for 13 years. Ron is a graduate of Ford City High School, Business Technical Institute and U.S. Air Force Veteran. The Dillard families are lifelong members of Second Baptist Church of Ford City, PA and worship with Harvest Community Church.

Robert T. (Bob) Shumaker
Bob began his employment with the Welch Funeral Home after he retired from PPG Industries in 1993. Bob worked in various management positions at PPG working mainly as Supervisor of Safety/Health And Environmental Control. He is married to Nancy (Goodyear) Shumaker. She is retired from the Leader Times. They have four children and ten grandchildren. Both Bob and Nancy are Ford City High School Graduates. Bob served in the U.S. Army in Korea; is a graduate of Clarion University; served on the Manorville Boro Council for over 25 years; was a Committeeman for 30 years; is very active at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kittanning; and is a member of the Ford City Area Hall of Fame.

Richard “Rocky” Pencak, Assistant
Rocky joined the staff at Welch Funeral Home in December 2007. He graduated in the first class of Kiski High School in 1963. He retired from Lenape Vo-Tech in January 2000 after 25 years of service as a custodian. Rocky is married to his wife of over 30 years, Marge (Rumbaugh). He is a member of St. John Lutheran Church, where holds offices in council and evangelism, and serves as a custodian and lay assistant. He is also involved with the Masons, Tall Cedars, Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, and Amaranth. Rocky is also a member of the Ford City Eagles. He enjoys traveling, walking, and life itself.

William P. “Bill” Rizzardo, Assistant
Bill joined the Welch staff after his retirement from PennDot in 2006. He is a graduate of Ford City High School and a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He his a lifetime member of the VFW Post 4843 and a beneficial member of the Latin-American Society of Ford City. He was a past active member of Ford Cliff Volunteer Fire Department for 10 years. Bill is an avid golfer and loves hunting. He is married to Monique (Carow). They are longtime members of St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Cadogan.

Andrew “Andy” Tylinski
Andy joined the Welch Funeral Home in March 2008.

Mary Ann Badura
Mary Ann operated the former Faykosh Funeral Home in Ford City, which closed in March 2008. Any pre-arranged funeral contracts of the Faykosh Funeral Home are now being honored by the Welch Funeral Home. Mary Ann is available to handle the services for those pre-arrangements which were contracted through Faykosh’s before March 2008, or for anyone else requesting her services.

In Loving Memory of Albert "Dizz" Klingensmith
Dizz joined the Welch Funeral Home in 1964, and had worked with us for over 40 years. He was known for his kind and caring personality, and his gentle sense of humor. On June 3, 2007, Dizz died unexpectedly. We were deeply saddened by this tremendous loss, and miss him very much. May the Lord hold him in the palm of His hand until we meet again.


	OUR STAFF Robert D. Welch, Funeral Director, Owner Michael D. Heilman, Funeral Director Bob joined the Welch Funeral Home in 1967 after graduating from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He also graduated from Ford City High School in 1964 and attended Waynesburg College. He is married to Marlene D. (French) Welch, whom is employed by the Armstrong County Planning Commission. Bob is a member and Elder of the First United Presbyterian Church of Ford City, and was an active member of Ford City Hose Company #1 for 16 years. Robert has been certified as a Grief Counselor by the Grief Recovery Institute of Los Angeles, California. Michael joined Bob in November 2008. He is a 1997 graduate of Ford City High School, a 2001 graduate of St. Vincent College, and a 2002 graduate of Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science. He has been a licensed funeral director and embalmer since 2003. Michael is the son of David and Theresa (Smerick) Heilman, and is an active member of Christ, Prince of Peace Church, Ford City. Bob and Mike continue the Welch Funeral Home tradition of providing every family with a meaningful and personalized service. At Welch’s, we consider it an honor and privilege to serve your family. We believe that every person deserves respect and dignity, and that every family deserves care and compassion. Richard (Dick) Carli Dick joined the Welch Funeral Home staff in August 2001. He worked and managed Browns Boot Shop in Kittanning for 32 years. He continued his management and sales career with Antioch Publishing Company where he retired in 1993. Dick is married to Grace F. (Pore) Carli; she is retired from Armstrong County Memorial Hospital business office. They have four children. Dick is a graduate of Kittanning High School and is a member of the Latin American Society in Ford City. He is also a member of St. Lawrence Church, Cadogan where he serves as Eucharistic Minister and Lector. Arthur T. (Ted) Breuer, Jr. Ted joined the Welch Funeral Home staff after his retirement in March 2002, from Allegheny Ludlum Corporation where he served as corporate manager of safety and health. Ted is married to Janet E. (Salankiewicz) Breuer who is a retired schoolteacher from Ford City High School. They have one daughter, Dr. Gwen Breuer who is a physician at West Penn Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA. Ted was an active member of the Ford City Fire Department where he served for 30 years as a firefighter, EMT/medic, county and state fire, Hazmat and EMS instructor. He is also active in civic organizations. Ted attended St. Mary’s School and graduated from Ford City High School, Clarion University and Penn State. He is a member of Christ, Prince of Peace parish. (Formerly St. Mary’s). Ronald E. Dillard (Ron) Ron joined the Welch Funeral Home organization in January 2003. Ron retired as a Senior Administrator of Human Resources from the former General Public Utilities Company. Ron is married to Shirley (Bowser) Dillard. Shirley is employed by Charming Shoppes, Inc., as a Retail Associate. We are the proud parents of five daughters, and seven grandchildren. Ron has been and is very active with several Non-Profit organizations serving on the Board of Directors. He is a member of the Western Pennsylvania Safety Council, and the Ford City Borough Zoning Board serving as Chairman and Vice Chairman for 13 years. Ron is a graduate of Ford City High School, Business Technical Institute and U.S. Air Force Veteran. The Dillard families are lifelong members of Second Baptist Church of Ford City, PA and worship with Harvest Community Church. Robert T. (Bob) Shumaker Bob began his employment with the Welch Funeral Home after he retired from PPG Industries in 1993. Bob worked in various management positions at PPG working mainly as Supervisor of Safety/Health And Environmental Control. He is married to Nancy (Goodyear) Shumaker. She is retired from the Leader Times. They have four children and ten grandchildren. Both Bob and Nancy are Ford City High School Graduates. Bob served in the U.S. Army in Korea; is a graduate of Clarion University; served on the Manorville Boro Council for over 25 years; was a Committeeman for 30 years; is very active at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kittanning; and is a member of the Ford City Area Hall of Fame. Richard “Rocky” Pencak, Assistant Rocky joined the staff at Welch Funeral Home in December 2007. He graduated in the first class of Kiski High School in 1963. He retired from Lenape Vo-Tech in January 2000 after 25 years of service as a custodian. Rocky is married to his wife of over 30 years, Marge (Rumbaugh). He is a member of St. John Lutheran Church, where holds offices in council and evangelism, and serves as a custodian and lay assistant. He is also involved with the Masons, Tall Cedars, Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, and Amaranth. Rocky is also a member of the Ford City Eagles. He enjoys traveling, walking, and life itself. William P. “Bill” Rizzardo, Assistant Bill joined the Welch staff after his retirement from PennDot in 2006. He is a graduate of Ford City High School and a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He his a lifetime member of the VFW Post 4843 and a beneficial member of the Latin-American Society of Ford City. He was a past active member of Ford Cliff Volunteer Fire Department for 10 years. Bill is an avid golfer and loves hunting. He is married to Monique (Carow). They are longtime members of St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Cadogan. Andrew “Andy” Tylinski Andy joined the Welch Funeral Home in March 2008. Mary Ann Badura Mary Ann operated the former Faykosh Funeral Home in Ford City, which closed in March 2008. Any pre-arranged funeral contracts of the Faykosh Funeral Home are now being honored by the Welch Funeral Home. Mary Ann is available to handle the services for those pre-arrangements which were contracted through Faykosh’s before March 2008, or for anyone else requesting her services. In Loving Memory of Albert "Dizz" Klingensmith Dizz joined the Welch Funeral Home in 1964, and had worked with us for over 40 years. He was known for his kind and caring personality, and his gentle sense of humor. On June 3, 2007, Dizz died unexpectedly. We were deeply saddened by this tremendous loss, and miss him very much. May the Lord hold him in the palm of His hand until we meet again.