Earl Robert 'Bob' Wellman

A visitation will precede the funeral service 11 a.m. at Walton's Chapel of the Valley for Earl Robert 'Bob' Wellman of Minden, who died Sept. 20, 2009.

Born on June 26, 1924, in Paterson, N.J., to Earl Henry and Alice Brown Wellman, he graduated from Santa Monica, Calif., High School in 1942. He enlisted in the Navy in November 1942 and served three years during WWII and participated in the landings on Iwo Jima and Okinawa while serving on the USS Missoula. His ship participated in the occupation of Japan in Tokyo Bay, Japan on Sept. 2, 1945. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1946 and was promoted to Chief Petty Officer prior to being recalled to active duty in 1951 and served for 19 months, five of which were in Korean waters on the destroyer, USS James E. Kyes.

He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La. He majored in industrial relations, personnel and finance.

He worked for Associated Telephone Company of California in July 1947 in Santa Monica, Calif., which later became a part of GTE. During his 40-year career with GTE, he held numerous positions including vice president positions in Western California Telephone Co., headquartered in Los Gatos, Calif., GTE Michigan, and GTE Florida. He was elevated to president of GTE Pennsylvania in 1978 and GTE Ohio in 1980.

He completed his career with GTE as executive vice president chief operating officer of GTE California, the largest telephone operating company within the company. Mr. Wellman was a past member of the Public Relations Society of America, Personnel and Industrial Relations Association, Rotary International, Kiwanis, United Way of Muskegon County, Michigan, United Way of Columbus, Ohio, president of Junior Achievement of Santa Clara County, California, president of Junior Achievement of Muskegon County, Michigan, board member and co-financial director of United Way of Ventura County, California, Board Member of American Cancer Society of Ventura County, California, life-member of Independent Telephone Pioneer Association, life-member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of the American Legion. He was preceded in death by his son, James Henry Wellman in 2006 and his granddaughter Shari Lynn Sousa.

He is survived by wife, Verne O. Wellman of Minden; sister Dorothy (George) Gillemot of Franktown; sons, Michael Robert Wellman of Port Ludlow, Wash., and Randy Balough of Newbury Park, Calif.; daughter, Claire Powers of Newbury Park, Calif.; grandchildren Travis Balough, Jason Wellman, James C. Wellman, Shawn Wellman, Savannah Wellman, Kimberly Smith, Steven Moline, and Michele Moline; and four great grandchildren.

Walton's Chapel of the Valley is located at 1281 N. Roop St.

A celebration of life gathering will immediately follow the service at Glen Eagles. Interment will be in the Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village, Calif.