Francis Joe Weaver

1938 - 2025

Francis Joe Weaver died peacefully in his home after several years of poor health on July 17th, 2025. He was 87 years old.

Joe was born in Mannford, Oklahoma to Enolia Josephine (Young) Weaver and Francis Clyde Weaver. The family moved to Selma, California in 1946 when Joe was 8. The family attended Selma Baptist Church where Joe met his wife Nancy Arrington when they were young children. Joe attended Selma High School and began seeing Nancy for "study dates" while the two attended high school. Nancy jokes "we were both really interested in studying Latin." Joe graduated from Selma High in 1956 and went on to UC Berkeley for his bachelor's degree. He and Nancy married in 1958 while he was still at Cal, and the two lived in Berkeley for the first two years of their married life.

The young couple moved back to the San Joaquin Valley and settled in Fresno, California in 1960. They joined Calvary Presbyterian Church and built a circle of friends that lasted the rest of their lifetimes. Later in life they joined First Presbyterian Church and served as Deacons together; Joe also served as head usher for several years.

Joe began his career as a teacher with Fresno Unified School District, but after a few years was invited to teach a special education class because "they needed someone who could control the unruly ones." He related to the students because he had been an "unruly" student himself. After several years in the classroom he moved into Special Education Administration and finished out his 40-year career as a Program Specialist for Special Education. He had a heart for students with learning differences and was appreciated by his colleagues for his patience, kindness, and thoroughness.

During his younger years Joe enjoyed coaching his son and daughters' elementary school soccer teams and later became a referee, a role that he enjoyed for many years. He enjoyed handball, racquetball, tennis, and sailing over the years. Other hobbies were chess, reading, playing pinochle (a 4-player card game) with friends from Calvary Pres., and spending time with family.

After retirement Joe enjoyed additional pastimes such as volunteering at the Fresno Mission; traveling with Nancy including many weekends away together at the coast; and spending time with their 6 grandchildren, taking them on many outings, teaching them chess, and facilitating backyard games like croquet, badminton, and fort-building.

Joe was predeceased by his younger brother Forest, parents Clyde and Josephine Weaver, and grandson Stefan Wagner. He is survived by his beloved wife of 66 years, Nancy Weaver; sister Virginia Hoffman; son Charles Weaver and daughters Jill Wagner and Sharon Weaver; grandchildren Adam Weaver and Caroline Weaver Schwarm (husband Jacob Schwarm); Andreas Wagner (wife Christian), Hans Wagner (wife Breanna), and Anneliese Wagner; great grandchildren Lainey Van Buren Wagner and Anakin Seng Wagner.

Celebration of life will be held on Friday, August 1, 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Fresno. In leiu of flowers, donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Evangel Home, or Fresno Mission.