Judge Harland Tod Weaver was born on August 12, 1924 in the Highway Community, in Dickens County, TX and passed away November 20, 2018 in Paris, TX at the age of 94. Harland was the youngest of eight children of Newton E. Weaver & Celia Warren Weaver, famers who migrated to Dickens County from Eastland County, TX after WWI.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia Sterrett; second wife, Delores Hutchins Weaver, eldest son, Timothy Tod Weaver, daughter, Leigh Ann Weaver, parents, and seven siblings. He is survived by children sons, Stanley Shane Weaver (CO) & John Sterrett Weaver (IL) and by five grandchildren.
Harlands mother died when he was 6 yr. old from the flu leaving his father with seven children. The great Depression took its toll on all families and it was no different with the Weavers. His family was scattered everywhere throughout the poverty stricken 1930’s and 1940’s.He graduated Spur High School as Valedictorian of his Senior Class in May of 1942. In the spring of 1942 he qualified to become a cadet in the U.S. Naval Air Corps. When he began the V-12 program at the University of Texas he failed the physical exam due to a hernia and was disqualified for military service. He needed an operation but could not afford one so he went to work at the North American Aircraft Factory, saved his money and had the operation. Following the surgery he was drafted into the navy, served aboard a troop transport ship and soon thereafter he was transferred to the Executive Officer’s staff, as a yeoman striker. He again applied for the naval cadet program and received orders to report to William Jewel College to begin that training. After many months and much training he became a naval pilot and naval officer.
Following the Navy Harland returned to The University of Texas to obtain his law degree where in law school he served as an associate editor of the Texas Law Review. He began his law practice in Fort Worth, practicing primarily in Tarrant and Dallas Counties with both civil and criminal Law. His last office prior to being elected, was located in Grapevine. In 1986 he was elected Judge of the 233rd District Court of Tarrant County. In 1988 he was elected Chief Justice of the Second Court of Appeals, sitting in Fort Worth. He remained on that court until he retired, and then continued to sit as a visiting justice until Delores’ illness worsened in 2001, after which he handled no other Court matters.
Judge Weaver was particularly proud of the fact that during his lifetime he was a member of the State Bar of Texas for over 60 years.
A celebration of life will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday December 1, 2018. Go to www.foustandsonfuneralhome.com for full details.
