He grew up in Bay City Texas and graduated from Bay City High School Class of 1964. He attended Wharton County Junior College, receiving his Associate’s Degree in 1966. He then attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, receiving his BBA in 1969. He received his masters degree in Business Education from the University of North Texas in 1971 and attended advanced courses in vocational education at Texas A&M University and Stephen F. Austin University. He served as a teaching fellow in the business education department of North Texas. He had a long teaching career beginning with College of the Mainland in Texas City, and was one of the founding faculty for Austin community college in 1973, heading the department for business administration, secretarial science, accounting, and economics and eventually served as coordinator for adult vocational education. He was an avid square dancer for more than 40 years, starting at age 6, and served twice as President of the Austin Square and Round Dance Association.
After retiring to care for his mother and follow Sands on a career change, he moved to Houston in 1991. In Houston he devoted many hours of his time to raising money for various LGBT charities. He was an early member of the Classic Chassis Car Club, a long time member of the Miss Camp America foundation, and was chosen Queen Olympus 29 of the Krewe of Olympus Texas Inc. and Royalty II of the Mystic Society of Isis & Osiris, Inc. Collectively these organizations raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for HIV related causes during the years he was a member. He was happiest when he was doing work that benefited and brought joy to other people. He also served in the human resources office of Legacy Community Health centers and as a church administrator for Maranatha Fellowship and Bering United Church of Christ. Along the way he made many friends of all colors, shapes, and sizes that remember his humor, kindness, thoughtfulness, and sage advice. In 2005, he was elected by the Harris County LGBT community as male grand marshal for the Houston gay pride parade. Once his husband Sands retired, they enjoyed traveling the US in their RV with their best women Annie Couch and Marianne Huerter. He loved being uncle Weldon to Marianne’s nieces and nephews. Three years ago they bought Weldon’s forever home on lake Livingston, and just a year ago they were joined by a new love, an orphan German Shepherd named Gilley.
Weldon was preceded in death by his parents and by his sister, Gevonna Hickey Frnka. He is survived by his husband of 44 years, Sands Littlefield Stiefer, his former wife, Ruth Ann Petroskey Wilson, nephews Chaim Eliyah, Ricky Frnka, Randy Frnka, niece Vicki Frnka Hensley, and many friends and family who love him.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held from 2-4 Saturday Dec. 18 at Pat Foley & Associates 1200 West 34th Street Houston, TX 77018. In lieu of flowers, donations to the “there’s No Place Like Home” senior living campaign of the Montrose Center, or to the Alzheimer’s Association are requested.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pathfoleyfuneraldirectors.com for the Hickey family.
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