Richard "Dick" Weber

Richard Dutcher Weber, a resident of Lula, Georgia, died February 13th, 2008, at the North East Georgia Hospital in Gainesville, Georgia. Richard was 88 years old and was born July 20, 1919 in Scotia, New York, to parents Louis John Weber and Julia Ethel Dutcher Weber. On April 19th, 1952, he married his sweetheart, Audrey Adele Marchak in Yonkers, New York. Richard’s creative world began in second grade at the age of seven when his teacher observed him at a drawing board using both hands simultaneously, drawing two locomotives on the blackboard, facing each other like a mirror image. He became an Eagle Scout at age 17, and earned 31 merit badges. As a Sea Scout, he created a large oil painting depicting a 61-foot, 2-masted schooner as it sailed off the shores of Maine. At the Schenectady Airport in New York, he painted a flaming dragon on the fuselage of a famous racing plane called the “Gee Bee”, which was flown by Pee Wee Horseman, who was noted as the first pilot to fly the PanAmerican aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean. Later, while in high school in Schenectady, New York, an art teacher saw his full wall mural depicting a Lewis and Clark adventure and encouraged him to pursue an art career at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Louis J. Weber, had graduated from Pratt’s School of Science and Technology in 1914. Richard’s education was interrupted by World War II. From 1942 to 1944 he worked for General Electric in their Defense Program, as art director for technical publications. In 1944 he was inducted into the U.S. Army Infantry and completed his training at Ft. Blanding, Florida. Due to his experience with GE, the Army decided it was better for the war effort for Richard to continue his efforts as a civilian working in the military aerospace program at GE, and he was given an honorable discharge. In the Spring of 1945 he returned to Pratt for Graduation, and was awarded the Haskell Foreign Travel Scholarship, the highest award given by Pratt Institute, and he was also awarded the Excellence for Outstanding Merit in Industrial Design award. Following graduation, Richard taught for a year at Pratt, specifically, classes in two and three dimensional design. He eventually returned to Manhattan as art director at CEBA of Yonkers, New York, publishers of technical training manuals, working on preparation and publication of books for U.S. Armed Forces – Army, Navy and Air Training Command. Richard lived in Mariaville, New York, with his wife, Audrey, and began raising a family with three daughters, Nancy, Sharon and Cynthia. He became actively involved in the American Theatre Organ Society after purchasing a Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ affectionately named, “Winifred”. Winifred took her place of honor in the living room of the Weber residence (a home of Frank Lloyd Wright design, built by Richard and Audrey) and became the focal point for years of entertainment and music. In 1964, Richard left his position as Art Director at General Electric and moved the family to Plattsburgh, New York where he and Audrey purchased and operated the Strand Theatre, a theatre built in the 1920’s, which housed the pipe organ, Winifred. The family renovated the theatre and maintained ownership and operation for eleven years. Richard and Audrey then decided to begin a new business, again incorporating Winifred as the primary entertainment, and they moved to Marietta, Georgia, in 1976 and began operation of The Music Grinder Restaurant. After several years, Richard retired from the restaurant business and he and Audrey moved to Lula, Georgia. Richard was a self-taught musician playing the guitar, piano, pipe organ, violin, lap steel guitar and pedal steel guitar. When asked why he played on the black keys of the organ, he answered that there were fewer black keys than white keys. In 2006, Richard became a member of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants as a proven descendant of John Alden and wife, Priscilla Mullins. Richard D. Weber is survived by his wife of 55 years, Audrey Adele Marchak Weber, of Lula, Ga.; his three daughters, Cynthia Sue Weber of Carrollton, Ga., Sharon Weber Kelly of Buford, Ga., and Nancy Weber Winn of Lyles, Tn.; six grandchildren, Brian and Eric Kelly, Michael and Stacey Graves, and Christine and Les Winn. One brother, Robert John Weber, passed away February 19th, 1997. Richard will be missed dearly and forever by his beloved wife, loving family and friends. His approach to life was upbeat and positive, with a glorious sense of humor and a passion for creativity. He enjoyed black licorice, chocolate ice cream, smoking a good cigar and relating his life stories. His life was a work of art and music, and his adventures will live on forever through the memories of his family and friends. Arrangements by Williams Funeral Home, 2517 Trotwood Ave., Columbia, TN, 38401. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent in memory of Richard D. Weber (Class of 1945) to: Pratt Institute, Associate Director of Individual Giving, 200 Willoughby Ave., North Hall, Rm. 219, Brooklyn, NY, 11205, 718-399-4264. Interment will be private. Richard will be laid to rest in Wilkes-Campground Cemetery in Culleoka, Tennessee.

Richard "Dick" Weber

July 20, 1919 - February 13, 2008

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Richard "Dick" Weber

July 20, 1919 - February 13, 2008

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

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