William Lanz Weldon

1927-2024

William “Bill” Lanz Weldon passed away November 18, 2024 in Laguna Woods, Calif., at the age of 97. He is survived by his loving wife, Emily Jane Janik Weldon; four children, Tom Weldon of San Jose, Calif., Mary Susan Weldon of Eugene, Ore., Joyce Weldon of Los Angeles, Calif., and Anne-Marie Weldon Keane of Vail, Colo.; his sister Susan Weldon Buxton; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild and one soon-to-arrive great-grandchild.

William was born in Pittsburg, Pa., on February 5, 1927, to Roland Eugene and Emily Lanz Weldon. He lived in Milford, Conn., and Park Ridge, Ill., before moving to Los Angeles with his family in 1945. William attended Santa Monica City College before transferring to UCLA to study engineering, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

In 1951, William met Emily, the love of his life. They spent 72 joyful years together and had four children. William was dedicated to his family, serving on various boards at his daughters’ high schools and the family’s parishes. He was president of the Westdale Lions Club, the Men’s Club of St. Joan of Arc Church, and the Parent Association of St. Timothy’s School. At St. John Fisher parish in Palos Verdes, he served as a board member on the Parish Council and Christian Service Program, and was a member of the Advisory Board of the Mary and Joseph Retreat Center. He also served as a lector and sang in the parish choir, an activity he enjoyed with Emily for many years.

William worked for General Electric before earning his Real Estate Broker’s license and enjoyed a long and successful career as a real estate broker. From 1957 to 1988, he and his business partner operated their own real estate firm, Westdale Realty, in West Los Angeles. William continued his real estate career in Palos Verdes working at Marler and Associates, Prudential-Jon Douglas Company, and Coldwell Banker. Over the course of his career, he served as a director for the California Association of Realtors, the Los Angeles Board of Realtors, the United Multiple Listing Service and the Palos Verdes Board of Realtors as well as chairman of the Westwood Division of the Los Angeles Board of Realtors and president of the United Multiple Listing Service.

William enjoyed music, travel, and gatherings with his extended family and friends. He sang in musical groups, attended concerts, and was an avid UCLA sports fan. He was a wiz around the house – he could fix anything, get dinner on the table, and loved working in the yard, accompanied by our dog, Muphette.

William was truly an inspiration to all he met in his love for his wife and family, how to live a good life, and treat everyone with respect and care. He will be dearly missed for his great sense of humor, his loving and caring heart, as well as his honesty and integrity. William was a master punster, and with that we say, “Godspeed, Bill, you have earned your place in heaven.”

A Memorial Mass for William will be held Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 11AM, followed by a reception at St. John Fisher Church, 5448 Crest Rd, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275. Inurnment will be private at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.

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