Robert Welty Raphael of McCleary, Washington passed away Wednesday, Aug. 30, in his home at the age of 78. Robert Raphael was born Feb. 9, 1944, in Elma, Washington to John Carlton (Pete) and Dorothy Evelyn Welty Raphael. He grew up in McCleary with one older brother, John, and one younger brother, Mike.

He married Sandra Jam in 1964 and had two sons, Bill in 1965 and Randy in 1967. Bill now lives in Mustang, Oklahoma with his wife, Sheryl. Randy now lives in Portland, Oregon.

Bob later divorced and married Lola Mae Churchel in 1978. Lola brought six children to the union: Cindy, Julieann, Don, Patty, Steve and Shawn. Bob loved them all as his own. Together, Bob and Lola had two more children: Bobby in 1979 and Mary in 1983. They raised their children first in Elma and then later in McCleary at Bob’s parent’s home he had inherited in the early ’90s.

Bob was an automobile mechanic. There were very few machines he could not fix. He worked for a while at the Bremerton Shipyard repair shop and then several other shake mill and mechanic jobs in and around McCleary area before ultimately establishing his own garage at his home around 1995. In the ’70s, for several summers, he would travel to Morland, Kansas to help his Aunt Opel and cousins bring in the wheat harvest by driving a combine.

Bob’s hobbies included hunting, fishing and tinkering in his shop – he was beginning to teach himself how to make knives with his home-built coal fired forge. Bob had many, many friends and was known for his quick wit and innocent insults. His greatest love, however, was his grandchildren. He could not get enough of their laughs and hugs.

Bob is survived by his brother, Mike Raphael, of McCleary, Washington, 10 children, 18 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Lola Raphael, his brother John Raphael, and his parents, Pete and Dorothy Raphael.

Services will be held at McCleary Community Center on Sunday, Oct. 23, at 1 p.m.