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Donald A. 'Gordo' Weaver Osawatomie, KS QCWA # 28569 |
WEAVER, Donald Allen "Gordo" Weaver, age 86, of Osawatomie, Kansas, died Thursday, December 27, 2007, at the Olathe Medical Center in Olathe, Kansas. Donald, or "Gordo", as his brother named him, was born October 29, 1921, in Osawatomie. He was the oldest of four children of Harley Dencel and Grace Tenevra Jones Weaver. He grew up and graduated from Osawatomie High School with the Class of 1939. He worked for the Graphic during and just after high school. He earned his associate's degree from Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas.
He served in the US Army with the 101st Signal Battalion in the Asiatic Pacific Theater during World War II. He received two bronze stars for his service in the southern Philippines.
After World War II, he lived in California and Nevada, as well as other places, before starting to work for The Kansas City Star as a typesetter and then in computers. He retired after 35 years in 1981. He was married at age 47 to Mary Charlotte (Newlan) White. He was a member of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Elk Lodge #921, and the VFW, all of Osawatomie.
He was an amateur radio operator (KØJPW), active in civil defense. He also was a member of the International Typographical Union, and acted as a storm spotter.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, his stepson Darrell White, his sister Barbara Cedeno, and his brother Lawrence Elwood "Buck" Weaver. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Mary of the home; one stepson, Barry White of Welda, Kansas; one stepdaughter, Penney Steiger of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; one sister, Irene Wikle of Lee's Summit, Missouri; seven grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Services will be held at 10 am Monday, December 31, 2007, at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Osawatomie, with burial in the Osawatomie Cemetery with military honors. In state will be after 1 pm Sunday with rosary prayers at 2 pm, followed by visitation from 2:30 until 4 pm, at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie. Memorials may be made to St. Philip Neri Catholic Church.