George Frederick Weber, Jr. age 86, passed away peacefully on January 13, 2022, at his home in Sparta, Tennessee.

George was born in Henryetta, Oklahoma on July 24, 1935 to the late George Frederick Weber Sr. and Anna Louise Swanson Weber. He is preceded in death by his best friend and wife of 54 years, Jo Ann Parker Weber.

George is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma where he received his bachelor's degree in English and Geology and his master's degree in Education. He was a proud member of the OU marching band, serving as band president, then voted "outstanding bandsman" by his peers in 1958. George marched with the band at multiple Orange Bowl tournaments, and was always eager to share the Sooner footballteam's 47 consecutive wins and 2 national championships during his time in the band. He remained an avid Sooners fan his entire life.

George met his future bride at the Wesley Foundation on the OU campus in 1959. After they married, he served 2 years in the U.S. Army, training in the artillery unit at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

In 1962, George and Jo Ann moved briefly to Ohio, then to Michigan where he worked for 25 years as a teacher and administrator with the Birmingham Public Schools. He enjoyed teaching American literature, Shakespeare, and writing, and frequently shared stories of his students' antics. George was an avid gardener and spent summers planting and tending beautiful flower gardens at their home.

After retirement, George and Jo Ann moved to Sparta and immediately became involved in the community. George was a 20-year member of the Sparta Rotary Club. He was on the board at the Sparta-White County Senior Center, and served as president of the Friends of the White County Library. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Sparta where he sang in the choir and served on numerous church committees. George and JoAnn also enjoyed traveling in their later years, visiting many memorable places including Alaska, France, England, and China.

A silver lining of the pandemic was that, in the last years of his life, George's daughter was able to work remotely and spend long stretches of time with him in Tennessee as well as in Maine near his son and other extended family. They enjoyed playing dominoes, listening to his stories, and watching football and favorite movies together.

George leaves behind his two children, Emily Hayden (and her husband, Art) of Hamilton, Massachusetts, and G. Andrew Weber of Tenants Harbor, Maine; his grandchildren, Arthur Weber Hayden and Alison Jo Hayden; his sisters, Gloria Nicholson of Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Joyce Weber of Glenpool, Oklahoma; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Betty and Dr. Franklin Parker of Pleasant Hill, Tennessee; and several beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted 11:00am Saturday, January 29, 2022 at Sparta First United Methodist Church with burial to follow in Highland Cemetery. There will be no visitation prior to the service. Ken Wallace will officiate.

In consideration of the health and safety of family and friends, the Weber family respectfully asks that all guests visiting the church to please wear a mask.  The service will also be live streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0w0550uQFk

Memorial donations may be made to the Friends of the White County Library, the Sparta-White County Senior Citizens Center, or to the First United Methodist Church of Sparta.