Charles "Ed" Edward Weber

Reverend Charles Edward [Ed] Weber of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away on January 17, 2024, at the age of 102. Ed Weber was born on April 13, 1921, in Dayton, Ohio, to Charles Fredrick and Josephine Davis Weber. He was educated from kindergarten through twelfth grade in Oakwood, a suburb of Dayton, and graduated from Miami University in 1943.

He interned with the National Institute of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C. During this internship his interest in Christian ministry inspired him to study for and earn a Bachelor of Divinity from Yale University in 1947. He was ordained that same year as a minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

Ed entered the pastoral ministry at First Christian Church, Benton, Illinois. In 1950 he helped plant Broadway Christian Church in Tucson, Arizona, where he met and married Alice Janney Hughes on August 3, 1951, and where their first two children, Margery Eugenia and Charles Fredrick, were born. In 1954 Reverend Weber took a position with the Board of Christian Discipleship in Indianapolis, Indiana, helping Hispanic language congregations maintain and grow their ministries. A second set of Weber children, Donald Edward and James Lawrence, were born in Indianapolis.

In 1958 the Weber family moved to Marion, Ohio, where Ed was pastor for Central Christian Church. He answered a call from First Christian Church of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in 1968 and served there until 1977 when Ed and Alice moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pastor Eastwood Christian Church. Weber’s last full-time pastorate was at First Christian Church, Black Mountain, North Carolina, from 1982 until his retirement in 1985. He took on an interim pastorate position with East Asheville Christian Church ending in 1989. In 1994, Ed and Alice moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, to be closer to their growing family. They became active members in Northside Christian Church where Ed taught Sunday School, led singing, and served as an elder.

During his forty-five years of ministry, Ed served the communities in which he lived, holding positions on many ministry boards. The list of those activities is too long to include here, but it testifies to his dedication to service both in and outside of the church.

Ed was an avid tennis player throughout his life, winning competitions in his age category. He enjoyed camping, bicycling, hiking, card games, travel, history, reading, poetry, and conversation. And he loved pie! He sang in the choir at every church he served and often performed solos. Ed and Alice taught music to their family by example, singing together at every opportunity.

As parents, Ed and Alice shared their faith in casual family moments so that their children saw their belief in a God of love and their passion for the Christian Gospel personalized in the day-to-day. As they grew older, Ed and Alice both expressed confidence that death held no fear; rather, it would be the beginning of a new life, pain-free and joy-filled, in the presence of their loving God.

While Reverend Weber had an extensive pastoral ministry and many favorite activities, perhaps his most important and beloved legacy was as a grandfather. One of his eleven grandchildren expressed it well for all, calling him, “The best grandpa in the entire world!” The time he spent with them over the last thirty-seven years helped shape them into the wonderful young adults they are today. He will live on in them in countless ways.

In their later years, family and friends witnessed the intensity of Ed and Alice’s love for one another. Ed would sing to Alice when she was rehabilitating after a stroke. He could not bear to be away from his wife, visiting daily just to hold her hand and tell her what a wonderful woman she was. Such a deep love will transcend death.

At age 96, Ed said, "I have enjoyed being with some wonderful people. I have enjoyed being with a wonderful woman…I commend you to live a life of goodness, of faith, a life of joy and happiness, and a life of giving and forgiving. I think that’s what produces a meaningful life. And I am thankful for a wonderful life."

Rev. Weber is preceded in death by his parents Charles Frederick and Josephine Davis Weber; his sister Eugenia [Genie] Weber Freeman (Donald), and his nephew C. Edward [Ed] Duemler. He is survived by his beloved wife; his four children: Margery Weber Bensey, Chuck Weber (Renee), Don Katahdin, Jim Weber (Melony Pugh-); his nephew Alfred Duemler (Sue); and his grandchildren: Kiernan Bensey, Cristina Weber, Alicia Schenck-Mahnke (Cody), Marci Weber, Lilia Weber, Grace Weber, Charles Weber, Arthur Katahdin, Sonia Katahdin, Alex Weber, and Mae Pugh-Weber.

A memorial service for Reverend Ed Weber will be held on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at Northside Christian Church 4008 Tazewell Pike, Knoxville, TN. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. with the memorial service following at 2 pm.

Donations may be given in Reverend Weber’s honor to:

Touchstone Youth Resource Services, Inc., an organization that provides social, emotional, character, and spiritual resources for teens and young adults: Donations can be made through tyrs.org.

Northside Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Week of Compassion offering: Donations can be mailed to the church, 4008 Tazewell Pike, Knoxville, TN 37918.

Christmount Christian Assembly, The National Conference Center for the Christian Church Disciples of Christ: Donations can be made through christmount.org/support. The family invites friends to sign the online guestbook and share their family memories at www.weaverfuneralservice.com