Richard Samuel Weaver
November. 2, 1919 - July 27, 2014

Richard Samuel Weaver, 94, of Dale Enterprise, passed from death to eternal life with Christ on Sunday, July 27, 2014. He was born on Nov. 2, 1919, in the family home on Park Place in Harrisonburg, and was a son of the late Henry David and Sallie (Wenger) Weaver. He grew up in Park View and graduated from EMHS and EMC with a bachelor degree in Bible. During high school he worked at Shenandoah Manufacturing, and then later worked in plumbing and refrigeration. During WWII, drafted as a conscientious objector, he was first stationed at Harrisburg State Mental Hospital (Pennsylvania), and then later banding birds at Medaryville, Ind. He returned to Harrisonburg, flying a biplane from Hartman Airport to his last assignment in Kalispell, Mont., where he was a pilot, flight trainer and camp director for the smokejumpers.

He was ordained as a minister by lot in Virginia Mennonite Conference in 1948, taking his first pastorate at churches in Job, Lambert, and Witmer, W.Va. He returned to Park View in 1954 and began Weaver Audio Studio.

He was the announcer on The Mennonite Hour radio program for many years. He later operated Weaver Hams Inc. From the 1950s to the 1970s, he pastored Broad Street Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, a racially integrated congregation during the time of legal segregation. He also pastored New Covenant Mennonite Church, Hopewell Mennonite Church in Morgantown, Pa., and retired from Staunton Mennonite Church.

In 1936, he was licensed as an amateur radio operator as W3HXH, and enjoyed his ham radio friends until his passing. He loved people and also often went to the mountains to meditate, pray, and sometimes hunt. One of his favorite sayings was “keep looking up!” For many years he operated the Dale Enterprise Weather Station, the third oldest in the U.S., which was begun in 1868 by his wife’s grandfather, Bishop L.J. Heatwole. He and his wife traveled with the Wally Byam Airstream Club for many years. He also volunteered in many organizations, including Rockingham RELAY, Mennonite Disaster Service communications, and Red Cross, managing communications during the 1985 flood in Rockingham and Pendleton counties. On March 14, 1946, he married the former Virginia Elizabeth Grove of Sunnyside Presbyterian Retirement Community, who survives.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Weaver is survived by a son, Robert E. Weaver of Dale Enterprise; a sister, Janet (Morris) Yoder of VMRC; a brother, Henry (Mary) Weaver Jr., of Goshen, Ind.; his late son’s wife, Anne Weaver of Broadway; a granddaughter, Kimberly (Joe) Weaver Rocco of San Rafael, Calif.; a grandson, Richard Scott (Shauna) Weaver of Harrisonburg; five great-grandchildren, Zach, Zoe, Zeno, Zane, and Zeta Rose Rocco, and a special family friend, Maria Nordman of Los Angeles.

He was preceded in death by a son, Ralph C. Weaver, a sister, Virginia Driver, and a brother, Cleo Weaver.

The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at Weavers Mennonite Church with Pastor Phil Kanagy officiating. Viewing will be at the church from 9:30 to 10:30. Burial will follow at Weavers Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday evening from 6 until 8 at the Meredith Chapel of Sunnyside Retirement Community. Friends may also call at the funeral home anytime Tuesday.