Frank E. “Ed” Weldon III, age 89 of Hattiesburg, MS went to be with the Lord on Monday, July 27, 2020 in the home he shared with his beloved wife, Erlene.
Ed was born on April 29, 1931 in Plainfield, NJ. He grew up in Fanwood, NJ near New York City and later graduated college from the Citadel Military Academy in Charleston, SC. Ed also served in the US Army during the Korean War. He settled in Seattle, WA where he married Janice Aiken. Ed and Janice served together in Brooklyn Avenue Baptist Church. Ed was preceded in death by Janice, with whom he shared daughter, Tamara Bacon and son, Frank E. Weldon IV (Win).
Ed earned his MBA from Columbia University in New York City, a Master’s in Church Music from Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX where he also developed his skills in playing the organ, and his Doctorate in Economic Education from Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL. He was the Minister of Music, Brooklyn Avenue Baptist Church, Seattle, WA, Emmanuel Episcopal Church and Trinity Lutheran, Cumberland, MD, and taught at Allegany Community College 1965-1981 and Frostburg State University.
Dr. Weldon made his home in Hattiesburg in 1980 when accepted a position as a professor at (former) William Carey College. He left William Carey in 1991 to serve on the faculty at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, GA where he finally retired in 2008.
Over the years Ed served as Music Director, organist or in Christian Education in various churches from Seattle, WA to his final home in Hattiesburg, MS. He had a passion for music, for numbers, his family, and most of all for Jesus. To those who knew and loved him, there was always a smile and a warm welcome.
Ed was preceded in death by parents, Frank Edwin Weldon Jr. and Mildred Hand Weldon, both of Jamestown, NJ; Siblings, Allen Hand Weldon, of Middletown, NJ and Camela Weldon Potter of Hightstown, NJ. He is survived by his wife, Erlene White Weldon of Hattiesburg, MS; a sister, Mary Weldon Van Deusen of Landenberg, PA; his children, Tamara Bacon of Black Mountain, NC and Frank “Win” Weldon IV and wife Penny Weldon of Knoxville, TN; stepchildren Jerry & Cheryl Gates of Charlotte, NC, Jim & Gladys Gates of Troy, AL, Joe & Debra Gates of Hixson, TN, Scott & Donna Davis of Stockbridge, GA, and Jon Gates of Natchez, MS; his grandchildren Bonnie, Marshall, MaryAnne, Frank, and Phoebe; his 6 step-grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at Boone Cemetery on Friday, July 31, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. to remember and celebrate the life of Frank “Ed” Weldon.
Posted in: Hattiesburg American
Posted on: 0000-00-00
Link to original obituary: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hattiesburgamerican/obituary.aspx?n=frank-e-weldon-ed&pid=196569605&fhid=17526