James Allen Weaver

James Allen Weaver, a wonderful husband, father, and man, left this Earth on September 30, 2020 in Follett, Texas to be in eternal peace.

James was born on August 31, 1929 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to two loving parents, Samuel Ellison Weaver (1903-1993) and Jean Evelyn Purdue Weaver (1906-1966). His parents both shared a love for bird watching and gardening. While both Samuel and Jean enjoyed the simple things in life, they thrived in the more complex areas of life as well. Samuel was a statistician and Jean was a schoolteacher. Jean could also play the organ/piano beautifully and received a master’s degree in education, at a time when it was not the norm for women to do so.

James proved to be a great combination of both of his parents; he loved growing iris flowers, he was an amazing provider for his family, and he was a very brilliant man. He attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He also completed graduate coursework at Southern Methodist University. He then went on to specialize in structural engineering at Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV), which became Loral Space and Communications before he retired, 43 years later. While at LTV, he helped design the LTV A-7 Corsair II and a wide variety of satellite communication reflector antennas around the world. Some of these antennas are located in Brazil, Guam, Japan, and Arkansas. He was also a U.S. expert in fasteners and adhesives, which qualified him to support airplane crash investigations.

While James had a love for engineering, he also had a great love for his family. James was married in Granbury, Texas, on May 14, 1958 to a beautiful woman named LaVerne Martindale Weaver. They lived in Grand Prairie and Arlington, Texas for 8 years before moving to Dallas, where they would live for the next 54 years. LaVerne was the love of his life; she took wonderful care of her husband and children, while providing for her family. She also achieved a degree in food service from Richland College in Dallas. James and LaVerne had two children; Norma Jean Weaver Riley and Mark Allen Weaver. James loved to bond with his family by sailing with them every week on his Flying Scot on White Rock lake in Dallas, Texas. He spent lots of quality time sailing with his daughter Norma and taught his son Mark how to sail. Mark would go on to place 1^st in the 1977 U.S. Junior Bemis Cup. James also portrayed his love to his children by sharing his passion for math and science with them. He made it a point to teach his children about both subjects, so much so that his daughter Norma Weaver Riley acquired a PhD in Electrical Engineering specializing in electromagnetics. She designed complex antennas for military applications, and also became a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). His son Mark Weaver also shared his father’s passion for science. He attained a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Economics, and now teaches high school biology, physics, and chemistry.

James Weaver was and still is a pillar of strength for our family. No one in the family was ever worried that they were unprotected, or that they would do without. He was a wonderful provider and he believed that LaVerne Martindale Weaver hung the moon.

          James is joined in rest by his parents, Samuel Ellison Weaver and Evelyn Purdue Weaver; and his brother John Elson Weaver.  He is survived by his wife, LaVerne Martindale Weaver; his daughter, Norma Jean Weaver Riley; his son, Mark Allen Weaver; and his grandchildren, Grace Madeline Weaver, Dixie Marie Weaver, and Peter Weaver.