Mr. Arnold Floyd Weese Obituary 1932-2020
Mr. Arnold Floyd Weese, 88, a resident of Belington and a life-long resident of Barbour County, departed this life late Wednesday evening, Dec. 16, 2020, at his home. Death was following a period of declining health.
He was born May 2, 1932, at the Mount Liberty Community in Barbour County, a son of the late Harold Custer and Ethel Blanche Booth Weese.
On March 27, 1954, he was united in marriage to the former Patricia June Coontz, his wife of 66 years, who survives.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Dr. Lamarr Weese of Belington and Shon Weese and wife, Jill, of Belington; three daughters, Cheryl Kelley and husband, Kevin, of Belington, Lisa Weese and fiancee, Chris Phillips, of Belington and Traci Furby and husband, Gerald, of Belington. Additional survivors include 16 grandchildren, Cameron Kelley, Lacey Kelley, Skylar Kelley, Madison Kelley Kazelyn Bennett and husband, Chad, Sable Hall and husband, KC, Colton Weese, Morgan Lake and husband, Cody, Gage Weese, Carinna Ferguson, Annie Ferguson, Mimi Ferguson, Trey Furby, Trace Furby, Tristen Furby and Trevor Furby; four great-grandchildren, Alayna Kelley, Lucas Hall, Elias Lake and Nora Bennett; several nieces and nephews; and a whole host of extended family and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one infant son, Timothy Lee Weese; six sisters, infant twins, Mary and Martha Weese, Nina Lee Allen, Ruth ‘Tootsie’ Mitchell, Irene Ensminger and Erma Hoffman; eight brothers, Luther Weese, Fay Weese, Norman ‘Bus’ Weese, Garfield Weese, Grant ‘Dick’ Weese, Eugene ‘Bunny’ Weese, Billie Weese and Homer Weese.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
Arnold was a graduate of the Belington High School with the class of 1950. He graduated from Glenville State College with his teaching degree in music. He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army serving in the 87th Army division in Germany as a Sgt. and served as the Division Band Director.
After returning home from the service, he had a small stent as music supervisor/director in Chakoton, Ohio, before serving as the band/music director at the Tygart Valley High School in Randolph County. Arnold then moved to Barbour County at the middle school level and after three years there he assumed leadership of the music department at Philip Barbour High School.
Under Arnold’s leadership from 1968 through 1984, the PB Band grew from 30 members to over 120 members, receiving multiple first-place awards and leading the community and local citizens to fondly brand the band, ‘The Pride of Barbour County.’ He started the first guitar class in a West Virginia school, ‘Strings,’ which laid the foundation for the PB Singers. This group of young musicians and singers toured throughout West Virginia and made several musical recordings. Arnold concluded his career at the middle school level in Philippi, inspiring a new group of young musicians before retiring.
Mr. Weese was honored with induction into the class of 2018 Philip Barbour Hall of Fame and the 2019 West Virginia Band Directors Hall of Fame.
Arnold taught music, but he taught so much more respect for self and others, a work ethic, and a passion for excellence. Strict discipline and no-nonsense behavior were guiding principles for all music students. Because of this, the students fondly renamed themselves ‘Arnold’s Army.’
Throughout his teaching career he was a father figure and a mentor to many. Despite his firm hand and strict nature, his students appreciated the interest and attention that Arnold provided to them. He guided his students in the ways-of-life and was responsible for shaping them into reliable and confident young men and women, proudly representing themselves, their school and their county.
He was still known to many of his students as ‘Mr. Weese’ at the time of his passing.
Arnold along with his wife, Patty, was owner and operator of Weese Music Center in Belington for 45 years. He belonged to the Belington Masonic Lodge No. 125 AF&AM, American Legion Post No. 96 and the Laurel Mountain Post No, 410 of Belington.
Mr. Weese was an avid hunter and fisherman, and made frequent trips to Canada to fish, and traveled out west for hunting excursions. During his retirement years, he and his wife, Patty, traveled around the globe to places including all over Europe, such as England, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Australia and Hawaii.
Arnold was blessed with an extreme gift of music and the ability to play many instruments, especially stringed instruments including the banjo, fiddle, and guitar. His favorite style of music was traditional country and his beloved bluegrass.
He was a staunch conservative Republican and a member of the NRA. Arnold will be remembered for his wit and sense of humor and for his ability to tell a joke and always get a laugh. If ever there has been an example of a life well lived and a job well done, it is the example Mr. Weese has provided to the many family and friends he leaves behind. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Due to the covid restrictions, a private family visitation will be conducted at the Talbott Funeral Home in Belington from 4 – 8 p.m., on Friday Dec. 18, 2020. A funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, from the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Jimmie E. Tallman officiating. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, face masks and social distancing are mandatory. Interment will follow in the Fraternal Cemetery near Belington where full military rites will be accorded by the US Army and The American Legion Post No, 96 of Belington. The Belington Masonic Lodge No. 125 AF & AM will also conduct Ritualistic graveside rites.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.talbottfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, Mr. Weese asked that memorial contributions be made to the music department of Philip Barbour High School c/o Victor Iapalucci, 99 Horseshoe Drive, Philippi, WV 26416.
The Talbott Funeral Home in Belington is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Arnold Floyd Weese.
Mr. Arnold Floyd Weese Obituary 1932-2020
