Donald Weaver

Donald "Don" Clifford Weaver, age 100, passed away on Monday, August 26, 2019. Don was born on November 20, 1918 in Hastings, the son of Forest and Lizzie (Waters) Weaver. He graduated from Hastings High School, Central Michigan University with a Baccalaureate degree and then the University of Michigan with a Master's and Doctor of Education degrees. He was a teacher and administrator in Michigan and Illinois public schools for forty six years, beginning in a one-room country school in Doster, Michigan in 1938. Don was principal of Kinney Elementary School in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; school social worker and principal of the high school in Waterford, Michigan; lecturer at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor; and assistant superintendent in Aurora, Illinois schools. He spent twenty two years in the College of Education at Western Michigan University where he served as Professor of Education, Director of University Campus School and Director of the Mott Foundation Leadership Training Program. During WWII, he served as Red Cross Home Service Chairman for Isabella County. He also served on the Delton Kellogg Board of Education and directed camps for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. He was inducted into the Michigan Education Hall of Fame in 1986. In retirement, he and his wife, Helen, enjoyed golf, square dancing and travel. Their travels included teaching assignments at the University of Guam and State College in Victoria, Australia, as well as visits to scores of former students both here and abroad. He was a charter member of the Gull Lake Area Community Church and was active in church affairs throughout his life. In 2004, to honor Donald and Helen, his former students established the Donald and Helen Weaver Endowment in Community Education at Western Michigan University. Donald is survived by children: Mike Weaver of St. Simons Island, Georgia; Pat Weaver of Waverly, Georgia, Sidney (Jayne) Weaver of Kalamazoo, and Tom (Elaine) Weaver of Delton; grandchildren: Jeff (Lynne) Weaver of Kalamazoo, Karrie (Jamie) Kemery of Kalamazoo, Laura (Shelly) Embery of Brunswick, Georgia, Joshua (Debra) Weaver of Waverly, Georgia, Ryan (Paula) Weaver of Appleton, Wisconsin, Mark (Lindsay) Woolcock of South Haven, and Matthew (Stacia) Weaver of Kalamazoo; great grandchildren: Austin Garza, Erin Embery, Seth and Sienna Weaver, Alex and Brian Weaver, Brendan and Alyson Kemery, Zack and Phoebe Weaver. Don is preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife of sixty four years, Helen; and sister: Lois (Bruce) Terry. Private services were conducted and burial took place at Prairieville Cemetery. Memorial contributions to the Donald and Helen Weaver Endowment, 120 Walwood Hall, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008 or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan will be appreciated. Please visit www.williamsgoresfuneral.com to share a memory or to leave a condolence message for Donald's family.