An expanded obituary project of
MennObits. Includes additional information of obituaries
appearing in
The Mennonite and other newspapers. Source of
individual obituaries given with each record. Project managed by
Thelma Martin.
1989
W to Z
Weaver, Victor F.
February 28, 1913 - November 8, 1989
Victor F. Weaver, who more than 50 years ago started a chicken and dairy firm that is now part of the world's largest poultry processing company, died Wednesday afternoon at his home after a seven-month bout with cancer. He was 76.
Weaver, of 363 E. Main St., Leola, retired two years ago as chairman of Victor F. Weaver Inc. It was in 1937 when he and his wife of nearly 53 years, Edith Martin Weaver, started delivering poultry, cheese, and eggs to farmers markets in Lancaster and Philadelphia.Those first deliveries, starting at 3 a.m., took him and 17 chickens some 50 miles to a suburban Philadelphia market.
In the 52 years since, the New Holland firm has grown from its humble roots into an international company that employs more than 2,000 people and generates annual sales of more than $160 million.The company is now part of the $4 billion-a-year Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest processor and marketer of chicken and chicken products.
While the Victor F. Weaver name has been stripped from the South Custer Avenue plant, Weaver products will continue to enter millions of households as Tyson continues to market products under the founder's monicker.
Weaver, who was born in the East Earl Township community, of Blue Ball to the late David H. and Cora Heller Weaver, was considered to be a modest man who shied away from the corporate spotlight.
In a 1986 newspaper article, Weaver talked modestly about his firm's accomplishments. "I don't feel like what other people feel. I don't feel that so much has been accomplished, really. Some people might think it is. I feel people appreciate what we've done and so forth."
A Mennonite who dropped out of school after eighth grade, Weaver and his company are credited with many chicken-industry breakthroughs, including the invention of the batter-coated chicken and the process of turning chicken breasts into chicken roll.
At one time, his poultry firm was the largest family-owned company in Lancaster County, before it was sold to Holly Farms Corp. in 1988 for $19.3 million. The company became part of Tyson Foods when Tyson bought Holly Farms earlier this year.
Weaver was the recipient of honors throughout his life, from organziations such as the Span-ish American Civic Association, the National Food and Energy Council, and the Pennsylvania Poultry Federation.
As a rule, however, Weaver rarely sought the attention others paid to him. Indeed, according to newspaper accounts, business associates over the years have said that he sometimes was too removed from the praise he deserved.
Throughout the history of his company, his family has been an integral part of its operations. When he retired as chairman in 1987, his son, Dale M. Weaver, assumed the role. The younger Weaver was for 44 years, often his father's right-hand man.
Family and church were important to Victor F. Weaver. A life-long member of Weaverland Mennonite Church in East Earl Township, Weaver often publicly credited his business successes to God.
"We believe that when you love the Lord and serve him, that is the first commandment," he said several years ago. "Then you treat others as you want to be treated yourself. This is the driving force of the Weaver family."
In addition to his church membership, he was a board member of the Mennonite Christian Leadership Foundation in Salunga, as
well as a committee member for Camp Hebron, a Mennonite Church camp in Dauphin County.
His other life-long love was service to Philhaven Hospital in Mt. Gretna. He served on the hospital's board of trustees for 39 years, from 1948 to 1987. He was chairman of the hospital's board for one term.
Surviving, in addition to his wife at home and his son, who lives in Leola, are a daughter, Janet W., wife of Larry W. Newswanger, Goshen. Ind.; six grandchildren; two brothers, Raymond H. Weaver, New Holland; and Martin H. Weaver, Blue Ball; three sisters, Ruth, wife of Ira M. Good, Lititz; Etta, wife of Jacob H. Musser, East Earl; and Susie, wife of Charles E. Good, Lancaster; and a step-mother, Katie Brubaker Weaver, Fairmount Rest Home in Ephrata.
Zimmerman, Alice S. Hertzler
November 16, 1903 - April 19, 1989
Alice S. Zimmerman, 85, of R.R. 2, Dillsburg, PA and formerly of Slate Hill Road, Shiremanstown, died Wednesday, April 19, 1989, in Renova Center, Mechanicsburg. Born Nov. 16, 1903, in Camp Hill, Cumberland County, she was the daughter of the late Daniel Z. and Ella Zimmerman Hertzler. She was a member of Kralltown Mennonite Church.
Surviving are her husband, Noah W. Zimmerman; four daughters: Ella Hege of Richland Center, Wis.; Amy Kraybill of Dillsburg; Mabel Martin of Conrath, Wis.; and Ethel Clugston of Shippensburg; two sons, Wayne of McBride, British Columbia and Alvin of Harrisburg; a sister, Mabel Tennis of Dillsburg; 40 grandchildren; and 85 great-grandchildren.
Service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Slate Hill Mennonite Church, Shiremanstown. Burial will be in the cemetery adjoining the church. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday in the church. The family requests the omission of flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to Kralltown Mennonite Church, 180 Mine Back Road, Wellsville 17365. Arrangements are by Mussel-man Funeral Home, Lemoyne.