Stanley Ray Weber

My father-in-law. Stanley was born in a farmhouse in Pettisville, Ohio, on July 28, 1925, the fourth of six children to bless the union of Andrew Jackson Weber and Inez Celia (née Waldvogel) Weber. His never-dying soul entered Heaven at around six o'clock on the evening of Saturday, January 8, 2011. Except for a stint in the Army during World War II, where he served as a cook in Hawaii, the '50-'51 season he spent playing professional basketball for the Waterloo (Iowa) Hawks, and the '51-'52 season spent traveling with the Harlem Globetrotters as a member of the white team that served as a backdrop for the Trotters' notorious basketball hijinks, he lived his entire life in Northwest Ohio. Stan was also a third-round draft pick of the New York Knicks in 1950, but he chose not to pursue the opportunity. After the war he attended four years of college at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, courtesy of the GI Bill. It was there that he met his future wife, Avelda Ruth "Dolly" Johnson, of Perry, Ohio. He was known to say that the only way he could imagine living without her would be to have never laid eyes on her in the first place. Stanley and Dolly were married on August 22, 1948, in Perry. Making excellent use of his Bachelor of Science degree in addition to his six-foot-six height and considerable God-given athletic acumen, Stan forged a thirty-year career teaching math and coaching basketball, track, and cross country at Rossford Junior High and High Schools in Rossford, Ohio, a bedroom community of Toledo. He became the proud and loving father of three children: Greg (Jennifer McManus) Weber, born in 1952; Ron (Marcia Knurek) Weber, born in 1953; and Ruth Anne Weber (John) Klempner, born in 1955. Eventually there would be thirteen grandchildren: Angie Weber (Steve) Hobbins; Daniel (Chelsey Soster) Weber; David (Sandra Hoskins) Weber; Julie Klempner (Joe) Hagans; Stephanie Weber (Joel) Bixler; Todd (Jaclynn Schaap) Weber; Jonathan (Amanda Bolenbaugh) Klempner; Audrey Weber; Joanna Klempner; Justin Klempner; Erica Weber; Andrew Weber; and Roxana Klempner. At his death he and his wife had been blessed with seventeen great-grandchildren. In age order eldest to youngest they are: Jaclyn Hobbins; Carly Hobbins; Brandon Weber; Taylor Weber; Camryn Weber; Lauryn Hobbins; Lindy Hobbins; Travis Weber; Aiden Weber; Melanie Bixler; Lyndsay Weber; Raymond Weber; Collin Weber; Allissa Bixler; Alexys Weber; Alexis Klempner; and J.R. Hobbins. Stan professed faith in Christ at the age of fifteen, but it was not until a soulwinner and Bible teacher dealt with him personally in the early '70s that he received assurance of his salvation. From that moment he lived all-out for God. He taught Sunday School, witnessed for Christ, and lived a righteous example before his children, his grandchildren, his great-grandchildren, his church family, and the community. It was well with his soul. Among his children and grandchildren there are three Baptist pastors, three pastors' wives, one Christian school administrator, many teachers, and several in full-time Christian work. His legacy is that of an ordinary man who, despite inevitable frailties and certain endearing eccentricities, managed to be a loving and faithful husband, a devoted father, a beloved grandfather, a sincere Christian, an excellent teacher and coach, an exemplary citizen, a compassionate friend, and an all-around tenderhearted, humble, kind, generous, unassuming, ever-hopeful human being. He had the heart of a champion, a mentor, and a servant. Its simple diligence touched countless lives. As for us ... We have cried some tears and we'll cry some more. We have prayed many prayers but we'll pray many more. We have rejoiced a great deal but we will go on rejoicing. We have considered our past and counted ourselves most fortunate. We have looked into our future and glimpsed all that is still to be done. But whatever else we do, we will never forget our cherished Dad and Grampa. So long for now, Stan the Man. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. II Corinthians 4:6-7 =0=0=0= Some morning you'll find me touring that city Where the Son of God is the light You'll find me there on the streets so pretty Made of gold so pure and so bright With Jesus the One who gave me the victory Who led me across the divide Some morning you'll find me touring that city Where with Him I will ever abide.