Weldon W. Moore

1920 - 2017

Weldon W. Moore, age 96, passed away on March 19, 2017, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He was born on September 3, 1920, in Squires, Missouri to William A. and Bertha Farris Moore. On December 23, 1952, he was married to Roberta Jane Brown, daughter of Robert and Pearl Watson Brown.
He attended public schools in Ava and Jefferson City, Missouri. He was graduated from Jefferson City Senior High in 1937. He attended Jefferson City Junior College for two years. At age 18 he began teaching Christian School, a rural school in Boone County, Missouri. He taught there two years. He was employed by Jefferson City Radio Station KWOS as the Hyde Park Sportscaster. He was invited to interview for the same position at Radio Station WDWS in Champaign, Illinois, but declined as he had enlisted in the V-5 Naval Aviation Cadet Program.
His aviation training was at Lambert Field, St. Louis, and at Corpus Christi and Kingsville, Texas. He was Commissioned an Ensign in 1943 and was assigned as a Dive Bomber Pilot. He qualified to land on Aircraft Carriers on Lake Michigan. He was then ordered to report to Dive Bombing Squadron 10 at Sand Point Naval Air Station, Seattle, Washington. Bombing operations were conducted here, and overseas orders were received. He had two tours of duty outside the United States. He served with V-B10, V-B100 and V-J9. He flew most of the single engine planes of the Navy: Piper Club, N2S4, N3N, SNV, OS2U, SNJ, BT, SBC, SBD, SB2C, F4FM-2, and TBF. He served 46 months in the U. S. Navy, and was twice promoted in rank, ending as Lieutenant (Senior Grade).
He is a two-time member of the Caterpillar Club as he had to parachute from an airplane on two occasions due to emergency situations. The night before his first bailout, he and some other pilots went to a movie at the Opa Locka Naval Air Station Theater. As a part of the program, a two reel film was shown instructing pilots how to guide a parachute after jumping out. The next day he used the instructions from the previous evening to steer the parachute away from trees and water to land in a dry area in swampy Florida. The second jump was off the coast of Hawaii. He was down at sea for most of the day before being rescued.
On release from active duty, he came to Houston, Missouri, where his parents had moved.
He enrolled at the University of Missouri at Columbia, and was graduated in 1950 with a Degree in Law. He returned to Houston, Missouri, and was elected Texas County Prosecuting Attorney that Fall. He served two terms as Prosecuting Attorney.
While living in Houston, he twice served as Chairman of the Top of the Ozarks District, Boy Scouts of America. He also commanded Texas County American Legion Post #41.
In 1956, he and Roberta moved to Rolla, Missouri, and he began to practice law. He was the Attorney for the Cities of Newburg, Belle, and Rolla. He drafted many of the Ordinances for the City of Rolla when it moved up to a City of the Third Class. He served on the Library and Airport Boards of the City of Rolla. He served in various capacities of his church (First United Methodist).
He was active in the Democratic Party. He served as Vice-President of the University of Missouri Young Democratic Club. He was President of Texas County Young Democrats. He was twice elected Chairman of Phelps County Democratic Central Committee. The first time Stuart Symington ran for the United States Senate, he served on his campaign committee. He was appointed Colonel on the staff of Governor Warren E. Hearnes.
He was twice selected to serve on the Commission to Reapportion the Missouri House of Representatives. He served on the Missouri Commission on Human Rights on two separate appointments. He was listed in WHO'S WHO.
In 1974, he was elected Judge of Division II of the 25th Judicial Circuit. He retired in 1988, and took Senior Judge Status and continued to hear cases by assignment until December, 1998.
Shortly after he was elected Circuit Judge, he was appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court to serve on the Select Transition Committee to implement the 1974 Judicial Article to the Missouri Constitution. He served on the Executive Council of the Missouri Judicial Conference. He was Presiding Judge of the 25th Circuit, President of Missouri Juvenile Judges, and President of Missouri Presiding Judges. He was a frequent lecturer on Trial and Court Procedure at Missouri Trial Judges Colleges.
He was assigned by the Missouri Supreme Court to sit as an Appellate Judge in both the Southern and Eastern Districts of the Missouri Appellate Courts, as well as the Missouri Supreme Court. He sat with and wrote several Appellate Opinions for those courts.
He is a former member of Masonic Bodies and The Shrine, and a former member and past President of Rolla Lions Club. He is a Co-recipient of the Light-
Bramlett Award for upgrading the Juvenile Justice System in the 25th Circuit. He co-authored Local Court Rules for the 25th Circuit in 1975, most of which are still viable. Many Multi-circuit Courts of Missouri adopted many of these rules.
He was an avid golfer and twice attained the title of Club Champion at Oak Meadow Country Club. He teamed with Herman Thomas to win a 4-ball Invitational at the club.
Weldon is survived by his wife, Roberta; his sister-in-law Sue (Byron) Zook; his sister-in-law Arlene (Mason) Reardon; his niece Darlene (Tom) Ellis; and his nephew Bill (Amie) Moore.
A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Rolla, Missouri, on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. A visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. Memorial donations are suggested to the church or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Online condolences may be offered at www.nullandsonfuneralhome.com
All arrangements are under the direction of the Null and Son Funeral Home of Rolla.