Leonard Fred Weber, age 95, of Irvington, Illinois, passed away at 10:45 P.M. on Friday, January 8, 2021, at his home in Irvington, Illinois with his loving family by his side. Mr. Weber loved his church and was a long-time member of the Friedens United Church of Christ in Irvington, Illinois, where he served on the cemetery and church boards for over 60 years. He was a patriarch of his community and served as Irvington Village Treasurer for 20 years. He was a member of Centralia Moose Lodge 1219, Centralia Elks B.P.O.E. Lodge 493, and Centralia American Legion Post 446. He was a life member of Masonic Lodge 55 AF & AM and Illinois Bell Telephone Company Pioneers. Mr. Weber enjoyed traveling and dancing with his wife, Fran. He also enjoyed being in the outdoors, camping and boating, and doing most anything to help others. He cherished the time he spent with his family, especially his wife, children and grandchildren.
Mr. Weber was a veteran of the United States Merchant Marine. He proudly served his country during World War II as a Chief Radio Operator aboard the U.S. Army Troop Transport Ships: USAT “CAPIAPO,” USAT George Washington Carver, and USAT Stetson Victory.
Mr. Weber retired in 1982 from Ameritech Telephone Company, where he worked for AT&T in Saint Louis, Missouri, and Illinois Bell in Centralia, Illinois. After retiring from the telephone company, he owned and operated Weber’s Mobile Home Court in Irvington, Illinois, and Weber’s Services doing home maintenance and property management. He lived all of his life in Irvington, Illinois.
Mr. Weber wishes to express his appreciation to his granddaughter, Brigett Joy, for her life-long expressions of love, concern, and servitude.
Private Family Celebration of Life Services for Mr. Leonard Fred Weber will be held at Friedens United Church of Christ in Irvington, Illinois with Pastor Stacy Tate officiating. There will be no public visitation. As a result of current national health circumstances, friends are invited to join with Mr. Weber’s family via Live Stream at Facebook.com/irvingtonucc at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, January 14, 2021. Interment will follow in Friedens United Church of Christ Cemetery in Irvington, Illinois. Military rites will be accorded by the Centralia American Legion Post 446 and Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 2055. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Weber’s honor to the Friedens United Church of Christ Building Fund in Irvington, Illinois and will be received by the Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home at 134 South Elm Street in Centralia, Illinois. Please view the online obituary, send condolences or share memories with Mr. Weber’s family at www.moranfuneralhome.net or on Moran Queen-Boggs Funeral Home’s Facebook page.
Mr. Weber is survived by his sons, Larry Weber and wife Kathy of Nashville, Tennessee and Glenn Weber and wife Brandi of Duck River, Tennessee; stepdaughter, Joy Stephenson and husband Robert of Gilbertsville, Kentucky; 11 grandchildren including his special granddaughter, Brigett Joy; many-great-grandchildren; and niece, Diane Ore and husband Ron of Washington.
He was born on May 19, 1925, in his family’s home in Irvington Township, Illinois, the son of Henry and Clara (Beckmeyer) Weber. He married Claire Rion in 1947 in Saint Louis, Missouri, and they later divorced. He later married Dolores Huffman in 1953 in Olivette, Missouri, and they later divorced. He then married Frances K. “Fran” Yates on May 3, 1978, at Friedens United Church of Christ in Irvington, Illinois, and she preceded him in death on February 29, 2020. Mr. Weber was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 41 years, Frances K. “Fran” Weber; infant son, Mark Weber; daughter, Cynthia Weber; granddaughter, Justine Reeve; sister, Erna Thorne; stepsons, Joe Yates and James Yates and nephew, Dale Pumphrey.