Jim & Barbara Welch

Rex Maneval and his locker plant brought Bob and Jack Welch and their wives, Doris and JoAnn, to Frankfort; however, it was the community which convinced them to make Frankfort their home.  In October of 1953, the couples moved from Hoisington, Kansas where they grew up and graduated high school to establish their homes and Welch Brothers Meat Company in Frankfort.

A year later, Jim and his wife, Barbara joined the couples thus completing Welch Brothers.   The six of them managed the locker plant and supplied the meat case for Star Grocery.  Later, they built a delivery route for restaurants, drive-ins and steak houses which covered a 50 mile radius of Frankfort.

It did not take long for them to become an integral part of the community as they joined local churches and civic organizations: Civic Club, Eastern Star, PTA, Odd Fellows, Masonic Lodge, Rotary, American Legion Post 135, Eta Gamma Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority, Tuesday Club and Arab Shrine Club.  In addition, they served as leaders for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Work-to-Win 4-H Club assisting with many projects and events.  They believed in Frankfort’s potential and supported many community endeavors such as the establishment of the Frankfort Community Care Home, the Frankfort Golf Course and the Frankfort Swimming Pool. 

In 1970, they bought Star Grocery from Leo and Elizabeth Schrader launching Jim’s Super Saver Grocery Store.  They grew their corporation to include Welch Brothers Cattle Company and Welch Brothers Farms.

Frankfort was a good choice as the three families flourished and grew in this community.  Bob and Doris had one daughter, Vickie (Philip) Portser of Hopkinton, Massachusetts.  Jack and JoAnn had three children, Roxanne (Bob) Tilley of Frankfort; Kim (Dan) Droge of Manhattan; and Bart (Sheila) Welch of Cave Creek, Arizona.  Jim and Barbara had four children, William (deceased), Debbie Welch of Marysville; Kevin (Brenda) Welch of El Dorado; and Jon (Wendy) of Fairfield Township, Ohio.  All have fond memories of growing up in this small, but caring and supportive community.

James (Jim) Lee Welch November 16, 1935 - April 29, 2002.  His parents were Elmer and Inez (Jackson) Welch.  

Barbara Jane (Gilstrap) Welch August 24, 1937 - August 27, 2017. Her parents were William and Minnie (Velton) Gilstrap.

Barbara married Jim on July 21, 1954 in Hoisington, Kansas.