Victor R. Weber

1929 - 2021

Victor R. Weber, age 92, of Judsonia, Ark., peacefully passed from this life and went to be with the Lord on Oct. 31, 2021, at Unity Health in Searcy, Ark. He was born on Aug. 22, 1929, to Jacob F. Weber and Hattie O. (Pinson) Weber in Steeleville, Mo.

Victor was a kind and generous person with a wonderful sense of humor, a loving father and grandfather and a devoted Christian. He was a successful businessman who owned 18 movie theaters and drive-ins over the course of 64 years in the movie theater business. Victor's love for movies began when he was a small boy in Cuba, Mo. His dad took him to watch his favorite western movie heroes. One Saturday, Victor was hurrying his dad along to get to the movie. His dad said, "You love those movies so much, you should buy a movie theater when you grow up." Victor turned to his mother and said, "That is what I am going to do one day!"

After serving his country in the Army at Camp Carson, Colo., Victor bought his first theater sight unseen in Kensett, Ark. Thus began his long career of entertaining people of all ages across central Arkansas in towns like Russellville, Heber Springs, Bald Knob, Beebe and McCrory. His last labor of love was the renovation and operation of the Rialto Theater in its grand origins in 1994, including the beautiful neon gracing the facade and lighting the court square at night in Searcy to this day.

Victor was honored to be presented the key to the city of Searcy by the mayor in 2018. Victor was honored by his peers and was voted "Movie Exhibitor of the Year" in 2005 by Tri-State Theater Association. He retired at the age of 89. He was an avid reader and history buff, having read countless books on the American Revolution and George Washington. He loved to fish and spend time with his children, grandchildren and beloved great-grandchildren. Victor will be missed by his family and community.

Victor is preceded in death by his brothers, Raymond, William, Curtis and Harold, and his sisters, Frieda and Mildred. He is survived by his daughter, Tanya Scheidweiler (Fritz); son, Victor Todd Weber; granddaughter, Jordan Hegarty, husband, Aaron Hegarty, and great-grandchildren, Jack and Lyla; and granddaughter, Victoria Reynolds, and great-grandchildren, Rose, King and Larry. Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Nov. 5, 2021, at Roller-Daniel Funeral Home in Searcy; no visitation. Burial is to follow at White County Memorial Gardens.

Online guestbook: roller funeralhomes.com/searcy