James Dorman Weaver – Colonel, United States Air Force Member of Congress

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James D. Weaver, M.D., Physician, Air Force Colonel

James D. Weaver, M.D., 83, who enjoyed a long, distinguished career in medicine and the military and held political office, died November 15, 2003, at his home in Falcon’s Landing in Sterling, Virginia.

Graveside services with full military honors will be January 9, 2004, at 11 a.m. in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington. Family and friends should arrive at the cemetery administration building by 10:30 a.m.

A celebration of life service will follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Falcon’s Landing Chapel, Falcon’s Landing, Sterling, with a reception immediately after.

Dr. Weaver was born September 27, 1920, in Erie, Pennsylvania, to the late Dorman Weaver and the late Clara B. Sharp Weaver. He graduated from Syracuse University in 1941 as a premedical major and received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in 1944.

Dr. Weaver was a general practitioner in Erie from 1948 to 1962. He was associate professor of clinical medicine in the Department of Community Medicine and International Health at Georgetown University from 1967 to 1968. He also was coordinator of the Reston-Georgetown University Health Planning Office.

He entered the U.S. Army Medical Corps in 1946 and served a long career in the military, both in active duty and in the Reserves. He retired as a colonel USAF, MC. He was air surgeon for the National Guard Bureau at the Pentagon from 1969 to 1983.

He also had a distinguished career in politics. He was elected Republican representative from the 24th District in Pennsylvania to the 88th U.S. Congress. He also was a medical consultant to the Warren Commission on the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

He received many awards and decorations from the Air National Guard, the Air Force, the Army and others. He volunteered extensively in the community in Pennsylvania, serving on many boards and committees.

He was married to the late Harriet Margaret Zesinger for 50 years. She died in 1992.

His second wife, Priscilla Harwood, died in 2000. Survivors include three sons, James D. Weaver Jr., of Silver Spring, Maryland, Douglas S. Weaver of Juneau, Alaska, and John S. Weaver of Mt. Airy, Maryland; five daughters, Margaret Weaver Wolf of Cincinnati, Ohio, Martha Weaver Saylor of Northumberland, Pennsylvania, Marilyn Weaver Fox of Frankfort, Kentucky, Mary Ann Weaver Lash of Broad Run, and Marjorie Weaver Thomson of Juneau; 24 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to Falcon’s Landing Benevolent Fund, 20522 Falcon’s Landing Circle, Sterling, Virginia 20165; or Hospice of Northern Virginia, 9300 Lee Highway, Suite 500, Fairfax, Virginia 22031.

Arrangements were by Loudoun Funeral Chapel of Leesburg.

Former Erie lawmaker dies at 83

Margaret Weaver Wolf said her father taught her democracy at a young age.

James D. Weaver made his family decide whether he should run for Congress.

“We always take votes on things, and we took a vote, and it was unanimous that he should run,” Wolf said.

Weaver, the U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania’s 24th District from 1963 until 1965, died Saturday at his home in Sterling, Virginia. He was 83.

A service featuring full military honors will be January 9, 2004, at 11 a.m. at Arlington National Cemetery.

Weaver worked as a physician in Erie from 1948 to 1962 before making the move to politics, Wolf said. Weaver ran as a Republican, unseating 16-year Republican incumbent Carroll Kearns.

While in Washington, Weaver served as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations on the Commission on Science and Technology for Underdeveloped Nations; was appointed to the House Science and Astronautics Committee; organized a bipartisan congressional study on the Cold War; and was a medical consultant to the Warren Commission.

Wolf said her father was a champion for civil rights and social justice.

“He wasn’t a hard party liner by any means,” said Wolf, 59, of Cincinnati. “He looked at the issues as an individual person and went by his convictions.”

Ann Grunewald, past Erie County Republican Committee chairwoman, recalled Weaver as well-educated and well-liked.

“He just impressed me all the time,” the 70-year-old Erie resident said. “He was a people-person. He didn’t forget who and what and why he got elected.”

Weaver spent much of his life serving in the military. He entered the U.S. Army Medical Corps in 1946, and served in Korea as commanding officer and chief of surgery for the 382nd Station Hospital. He returned to active duty in the Air Force as a colonel in 1966, serving as the air surgeon in the Pentagon’s National Guard Bureau from 1969 to 1983.

During that time, he established the State Air Surgeon Program, helped to form the Alliance of Air National Guard Flight Surgeons, doubled the size of the Air National Guard Medical Service and phased in the Early Commissioning Program for medical students into the Air National Guard.

He received various honors for his military career and contributions to the medical field.

“He was a very hard-working, caring, dedicated person,” Wolf said. “He was very committed to his family, his friends, his colleagues and his country.”

James Weaver; Doctor, Congressman
Wednesday, November 19, 2003

James Dorman Weaver, 83, a physician and Air Force Colonel who represented northwestern Pennsylvania in Congress from 1963 until 1965, died November 15, 2003, at the Falcon’s Landing retirement community in Sterling. He had cancer.

The Republican member of the House of Representatives was a delegate to the United Nations on the Commission on Science and Technology for Underdeveloped Nations in Geneva. He also organized a bipartisan congressional study group on the Cold War and was a medical consultant to the Warren Commission in its investigation of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. His assignments included the House Appropriations Committee and the House Science and Astronautics subcommittees on science, research and development, and on space sciences and applications.

After he was defeated for a second term, he was a consultant and taught in the Georgetown University medical school. He was also coordinator of the Reston-Georgetown University Health Planning Office.

Dr. Weaver was air surgeon at the National Guard Bureau at the Pentagon from 1969 to 1983, a period in which the Air National Guard Medical Service was doubled.

Dr. Weaver was a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, and a trombone player who graduated from the Erie Conservatory of Music and Syracuse University. He received a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and did his internship and residency at Erie’s Hamot Hospital.

He served in the Army Medical Corps in the late 1940s and was commanding officer and surgery chief at a hospital in Korea. He remained in the Army Reserve until 1962 and was in the Air Force Reserve until 1983.

He was in general practice in Erie from 1948 until 1962, serving for one year as chief of the outpatient and general practice departments at St. Vincent Hospital there. He was also district medical administrator for the Pennsylvania Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Dr. Weaver was a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice, American Medical Association and Aerospace Medical Association. He was a member of the executive council of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States and belonged to a number of other medical, aerospace and military organizations, which awarded him honors.

He also received three Air Force Meritorious Service Awards and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

His first wife, Harriet Margaret Zesinger Weaver, died in 1992. They had been married for 50 years. His second wife, Priscilla Harwood Weaver, died in 2000.

Survivors include eight children from his first marriage, James D. Weaver Jr. of Silver Spring, Margaret Weaver Wolf of Cincinnati, Martha Weaver Saylor of Northumberland, Pennsylvania, Marilyn Weaver Fox of Frankfort, Kentucky, Mary Ann Weaver Lash of Broad Run, John S. Weaver of Mount Airy, and Douglas S. Weaver and Marjorie Weaver Thomson, both of Juneau, Alaska; 24 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

jdweaver-gravesite-photo-august-2006

WEAVER, JAMES D
COL   US AIR FORCE

  • VETERAN SERVICE DATES: 09/27/1940 – 10/30/1983
  • DATE OF BIRTH: 09/27/1920
  • DATE OF DEATH: 11/15/2003
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 01/09/2004
    BURIED AT: SECTION 30  SITE 929-LH

WEAVER, HARRIET Z

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 04/06/1919
  • DATE OF DEATH: 05/28/1992
  • DATE OF INTERMENT: 06/03/1992
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 30  SITE 929 LH
    ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
  • WIFE OF WEAVER, JAMES D COL US AIR FORCE

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