Ronald George Weldon

Ron is survived by his wife, Janice Hehr; his daughters, Ashley and Ainsley Weldon; his step-children, Ryan (Sheri) Hehr and Andrea (Craig) Best; his sister, Shirley (Bob) Priebe; and countless cousins, nieces and nephews.  

Ronald George, son of Robert George Weldon and Stella Jean (Young) Weldon, was born in Edmonton, Alberta on November 26, 1948 and raised on a farm in Athabasca, Alberta. Ron’s lifelong passion for sports developed early, playing baseball and throwing or kicking a softball or football around with his sister Shirley and many cousins. His love of vehicles and driving was also kick-started early in life by driving tractors on the farm. Growing up, Ron attended Athabasca Elementary School, and graduated from Edwin Parr Composite High School in 1966. After a brief time in Red Deer, Ron moved to Edmonton to attend the University of Alberta. He played rugby and football for the Golden Bears and joined the Theta Chi fraternity, which he actively participated in and spearheaded events for over 40 years after he graduated. While in Edmonton he played team handball, as well as rugby with the Tigers.  After graduating with a Bachelor of Education, he taught in Edmonton for a couple of years, then moved to Fort McMurray and worked with Diversified Transportation and played rugby for the Knights.

In 1979, Ron and some of “the boys” lived and surfed on the eastern coast of Australia, a country he dearly loved and lived in again later in his life in 2000.

In 1980, Ron married Patti (Garvey) Weldon and they moved back to Edmonton, where he worked in various sales positions and played rugby with The Clansmen. His first daughter, Ashley, was born in 1983. In 1985, they moved to Calgary and Ron continued his sales career in the auto industry, which spanned over 25 years, including positions with Diamond Kote, SAL Group, and Megawheels. In 1987, Ron and Patti welcomed their second daughter, Ainsley. Family life was defined by nonstop sports and outdoor activities, as well as family adventures to Sandpoint, Idaho; Mara Lake, BC; and Fernie, BC.

Ron’s love of sports continued with his participation on the Silver Springs slo-pitch team, being an avid squash player and member of the Edgemont Club, skiing and snowboarding in Alberta and interior BC and countless annual golf and ski trips with “the boys”.

In 2009, Ron married his best friend, Janice Hehr, in beautiful Nanoose Bay, BC. They continued their life together on Vancouver Island, settling in Parksville. Together Ron and Jan continued to travel the world with trips to Brazil, Vienna, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, France and Spain. They walked the Camino de Santiago, drove across Canada and back through the US in their 29 foot “MoHo” and consistently made their rounds to Alberta and Illinois to see their kids and grandkids.

In Parksville, Ron joined the local squash club and a recreational softball team, and also kept active golfing, biking and playing pickleball. He continued to grow his network of friends on the island and stayed in regular contact with his many friends in Alberta and beyond.

In recent years Ron suffered some complicated health ailments, and he passed away suddenly from ventricular fibrillation. Ron lived with purpose, compassion, kindness and an unbelievable zeal for life and for the people in it. A celebration of life and memorial for Ron will be held on Saturday October 16,, 2021 at the Calgary Rugby Union.

In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that you consider making a donation to Jumpstart, a Canadian charity that helps kids overcome barriers to sport and recreation to provide inclusive play for kids of all abilities.