Mr. Richard Townley Weldon

Richard Townley Weldon. 74, of Westfield and Mantoloking, passed away on Thursday July 12, 2018 at his residence in Mantoloking. Richard's Life Celebration will be Monday July 16th from 3:00-6:00PM at Gray Funeral Home, 318 E.Broad St., Westfield. Private funeral services with burial in Greenwood Cemetery, Brielle, NJ will be on Tuesday July 17, 2018.Please go to: www.grayfuneralhomes.com to offer condolences. Richard was born on June 8th, 1944 in Holmdel, New Jersey. He grew up surrounded by his beloved mother Virginia Weldon, his father Robert F. Weldon Senior, his older brother Robert F. Weldon Junior, and his two sisters Beverly Whaley and Barbara Weldon. As a young boy he attended Admiral Farragut Academy, and throughout his early life he could be found getting into all sorts of shenanigans with his friends, creating lasting stories he would tell later in life. As a young adult he enrolled in Rollins College, and from there his interests flourished. For the rest of his life he would nurture a love for cars and auto racing, and would collect antique vehicles well into his later years. He also cherished his time at the Westfield Y where he made long-lasting, committed friendships with a group of men with whom he played basketball. And anyone who knew and loved Richard would know he was a patriot devoted to the love of his country, taking care to always fly an American flag at his residences. In his family life he was a venerated father to his two children and an adored grandfather to his four grandchildren, who brought him the most pleasure in his life. Yet his loyalty extended not only to his family, but also carried over into every facet of his work, for the most important people to him besides his family were his employees at Weldon Materials. Interacting with everyone and getting to know each of his workers on a personal level, visiting them at the quarries, and fostering a culture of appreciation filled his life with purpose and meaning, and at the end of his life they were the people he missed the most. And his love was not only for those who walked on two legs; he loved his furry four-legged friends with all his heart. His cherished golden retrievers Comfort, Amber, and Cindy gave him his daily doses of joy and happiness each day, truly defining the adage of man's best friend. Richard's entire life rotated between Westfield and Mantoloking, and while to some his lifestyle may have seemed repetitive, to him it meant that he was able to focus all of his energy on those who meant the most to him. When in Westfield he loved going to his grandchildren's sporting events, relished in having his work routine, and enjoyed the spacious field he had to play with his dogs. When at the Shore he delighted in having a cigar and a glass of scotch overlooking Barnegat Bay with his friends and family, listening to Frank Sinatra, and watching Old Westerns with his children and grandchildren when the day was done. Richard truly lived a wonderful life in service to so many, and just as he always reminisced about memories regarding his loved ones, those who loved him will continue to do the same when thinking of him. Richard is survived by his son Robert F. Weldon III, his daughter Elizabeth Weldon Quail, his daughter-in-law Maria Weldon, his son-in-law Brian Quail, his elder sister Beverly Whaley and her children and grandchildren, his younger sister Barbara Weldon and her children and grandchildren, as well as his four precious grandchildren Chloe Quail, Sophia Weldon, Isabelle Weldon, and Robert Fulton Weldon IV. His much-loved elderly golden retriever Cindy is also someone he'll be anxiously waiting for in Heaven. Memorial contributions in Richard's memory may be made to the YMCA of Westfield, NJ.