Eldon Ralph Weaver

Eldon Ralph Weaver died at Wesley Towers, Hutchinson, KS on December 6, 2019 at the age of 92. Born in Greensburg, KS on August 18, 1927, he was the youngest of five children raised on Eagle Canyon Ranch near Mullinville, KS. He was the son of Benjamin O. and H. Marietta (Marriage) Weaver. Funeral Services will be held at Evans Chapel at Wesley Towers, Hutchinson, KS on Monday, December 9, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. with graveside services following at 3:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Cemetery, Mullinville, KS. Eldon graduated valedictorian of Mullinville Rural High School in May 1945 and enlisted in the U. S. Navy. He served through 1946 and was honorably discharged as Seaman First Class. Attending the University of Kansas from 1946-1948, he met and married Mildred (Millie) Maxine Crandall of Centralia, KS on July 25, 1948. In the fall of 1948, they both transferred to Kansas State University. Eldon graduated in 1951 with a degree in Animal Science. In 1975 he earned a Master of Arts degree from Colorado State University. He was a member of Tri Chi fraternity at Kansas University, a member of Alpha Zeta Agricultural Scholastic Fraternity and a member of Phi Kappa Phi. Eldon worked on Eagle Canyon Ranch with his father from 1951 to 1957. In 1957 Eldon left the ranch to open and operate a Gamble’s Hardware store in Kiowa, KS. In 1968 he sold his business and moved to Winfield, KS to work in the Cowley County Extension Service as the county 4-H Specialist. In 1977 he was hired as South Central Kansas 4-H Area Specialist and moved to Hutchinson, Kansas. He held this position until retirement. In 1986 the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents awarded Eldon the 4-H Distinguished Service Award. Throughout his life, he was an active member of many service organizations including Kiowa Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, and Kiwanis Club. He was a member of the Mullinville and Kiowa Masonic Lodge, Sons of the American Revolution and the American Legion. He was a life-long active member of the United Methodist Church. He loved to sing and was a member of various church choirs and the Salt Minors Barbershop Chorus. While living in Hutchinson, Eldon and Millie worked to place high school foreign exchange students both here and abroad through the auspices of Educational Foundation for Foreign Study. In retirement Eldon remained very active. Two of his loves were his leaded stained glass artwork and driving his beloved 1930 Model A Coupe, nicknamed “Foxy Lady.” After Millie’s death in 2003, he married Roberta June Cook Thomas on January 15, 2005 in Tucson, AZ. With the assistance of his daughter, Trudy Flowers, he published memoirs of growing up in the 1930s in the book “Pals, Pranks and Perils.” Eldon was a relentlessly kind and positive husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He left the world a better place and we are grateful for his life; he was a great man. He is survived by his wife, Roberta, son Terry and Pam Weaver of Greer, SC, daughter Trudy and Harvey Flowers, of Cincinnati, OH, son Tracy and Susan Weaver of Manhattan, KS, son Trent Weaver and Barb Morrison of Windsor, CO, ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mullinville United Methodist Church, Mullinville, KS or Hospice & Homecare of Reno County c/o Fleener Funeral Home, PO Box 41, Greensburg, KS 67054.