- Date Of Birth: November 12, 1933
- Date Of Death: May 17, 2020
- State: Florida
After a long and accomplished life, Chief Master Sergeant James Douglas Weber (USAF Ret.), age 86, died on May 17, 2020, in Tallahassee, Florida. Mr. Weber was born in Miles City, Montana, on November 12, 1933, to Marvin and Matilda Schlepp Weber.
He was raised and grew up helping relatives on cattle and horse ranches around Rock Springs, Crow Rock and Angela, Montana. At the young age of 16, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and completed basic training at Lackland and Sheppard Air Force Bases in Texas. He was assigned to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, and Amarillo Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he completed advanced training in electronics. He later transferred to aircraft maintenance, where he served most of his military career. He married Mary Harris Beale of Tallahassee in 1959, and she joined him at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida. Mr. Weber served at Kimpo Air Force Base, Seoul, South Korea (1953) during the Korean War; Itazuki Air Force Base, Japan (1953-19¬57); Tyndall Air Force Base, Panama City, Florida (1957-1962); Misawa Air Force Base, Japan (1962-1964); George Air Force Base, Victorville, California (1965); Ubon (1965-1966), Udorn (1972-1973) and Korat (1975-1976) Air Force Bases in Thailand during the Vietnam War; Homestead Air Force Base, Miami, Florida (1967-72); Gunter Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama (1974); and Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas (1976-79); before proudly retiring to Tallahassee after 28 years of service as a Chief Master Sergeant (E-9), the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force. He was awarded the Bronze Star and five meritorious service awards.
After retiring from the Air Force, he was employed for 10 years as the caretaker of the Florida Credit Union Service Center in Tallahassee. Recently, he was memorialized in the Walk of Honor at the State Capitol in Tallahassee. He was predeceased by his parents, Marvin and Matilda Schlepp Weber; his twin sister, Patricia Harbaugh; and his wife, Mary, of 55 years, who passed away in 2014. He is survived by his niece, Barbara Jo Morgan, her husband Bruce, and their daughters Kendalyn and Tristynn; of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and his wife’s brothers, Frank C. Beale, Jr. and his wife Liz of Las Vegas, Nevada, and George L. Beale of Novato, California; and close friend, Kent A. Zaiser of Tallahassee, Florida. He leaves behind a multitude of colleagues and devoted friends throughout his life.
For the last 19 years of their marriage, Jim was the primary caregiver for his loving wife. He also served as a caregiver for the numerous friends he made throughout his life. The cards, letters, visits and phone calls he made to all of his friends will be greatly missed. He enjoyed racing, restoring and showing classic muscle cars and cared tirelessly for a multitude of adopted cats over his entire life.
