Dr. Allen Paul Weirick

Dr. Allen Paul Weirick, 66, was born in Rockledge, Pennsylvania on November 19, 1953 and died in Cartersville, Georgia on July 29, 2020. Allen was a retired German teacher from the Woodland High School, Bartow County, in Cartersville, Georgia. He was the son of the late Paul & Dorothy Weirick. He is survived by his sister & her husband, Suzanne & Manfred Geiger and nephews, Erich, Karl and Stephen Geiger and their families, and cousins on both sides of his family. Allen never married, but was rich in friendships throughout his life, including his dear friend Sharon Bickford, who preceded him in death. His friends knew Allen as a kind and caring person who always helped others selflessly.

COVID 19 restrictions preclude having a funeral service at this time. A memorial service will be held at a later date at the First Presbyterian Church of Cartersville. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a charitable contribution in Allen’s name to the Deacon’s Fund of the First Presbyterian Church of Cartersville, Georgia or to the Goethe Institute USA.

Allen was shaped by a family with German traditions and grew up in the Lutheran church.  Travelling, bird-watching and collecting were very much a part of the family traditions. Allen and his whole family were avid pinochle card players. Allen had a close circle of friends from high school who remained life-long friends.

Allen grew up in Rockledge, Pennsylvania and graduated from Abington High School in Abington, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey with a Bachelor of Arts in German and History.  These two subjects were central interests throughout his academic career and his life.  Allen earned his Master of Arts degree in German from Middlebury College, Vermont, and his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio.  He also studied at the University of Mainz and the University of Hamburg in Germany, getting immersed and becoming fluent in German language, culture and education.

Allen taught German at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio; the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan; John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland; and the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia before moving to Cartersville to teach at Woodland High School. He was an exceptional teacher and a great mentor to his students.

Allen was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Cartersville, Georgia, where he served as an Elder. He sang in the church choir, the Upper Room Band, and other choirs in the area. With a keen passion for music, he enjoyed singing and also played the viola.

Allen’s interests were encyclopedic in scope. He had a strong interest for history and historical places, and was a Civil War buff. He walked every street in Bartow County just to see what was there. He served on the Board of Directors of The Friends of the Bartow County Library System.

Allen valued his wide circle of family and friends throughout the East Coast and the world. He found a home in Cartersville with the church and the “Driveway Party” fellowship group as the heart of his social life there. He was a unique person who was much loved by all who knew him and will be greatly missed.