He was born December 9, 1921 in Farmington NM to H.N. and Allie Barnes Weldon and spent his early years in Farmington, Pagosa Springs, CO and Durango, CO. He graduated from Pagosa Springs High School then finished a bachelors at Western State College, Gunnison CO. With the advent of WWII, Herb enlisted in the Army and was sent to the Pacific Theater where he served in the Finance Section at 6th Army headquarters in Australia, New Guinea, Luzon, and Leyte in the Philippines. Herb earned the Asiatic-Pacific ribbon with 3 Bronze Stars and the Philippine Liberation ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars.
After the war, he finished his master’s degree at Western State College, then was hired at Mesa Junior College in Grand Junction, CO. There he taught mathematics, physics, and calculus to engineering students, beginning his teaching career in an old Army barracks on the college campus and utilizing surplus military supplies as teaching aids in his classes. He truly was a teacher at heart.
He met his future wife, Norma Carr, at the college where she was also a teacher. They were married on June 20, 1948 in Del Norte, CO. To this union were born three children: Kent, Renee, and Sharon. Herb didn’t stop teaching when he got home at night. He spent his evenings encouraging and challenging his children, instilling in them his love of learning.
In his position as vice-president of Academic Affairs, he assisted Mesa College in their transition from a 2-year junior college to a 4-yr state college, serving under 5 college presidents. At his retirement after 36 years of service to the college, he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Sciences degree, the first one ever conferred by the institution. The Weldon lecture hall in Wubben Hall was named for him.
Herb and Norma spent their retirement years researching the family histories of all 8 of their grandparents. Together they wrote genealogic history books on those families, one of which is in the Library of Congress.
Herb was preceded in death by his wife Norma, his parents, 3 siblings, and his son Kent. He is survived by his daughters Renee (Larry) Stahl of Grand Junction CO, and Sharon Weldon of Normal, IL; and daughter-in-law Tina Weldon of Indianapolis, IN. He also leaves 4 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Colorado Mesa University Foundation to be used for scholarships (www.supportingcmu.org) or to Hope West Hospice, 3090B North 12th St., Grand Junction CO 81506.
Arrangements under the direction of Martin Mortuary, Grand Junction, CO.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.9.5