Alberta Grace Weddle, 90, formerly of Fort Scott, passed away Thursday morning, October 17, 2024, at Ascension St. John’s Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was born on April 2, 1934, in Kansas City, Missouri, the daughter of Lars Huggins and Hazel Leona (Hawks) Huggins. She married Russell Marvin Weddle on July 21, 1949, in Kansas City, Missouri, and he preceded her in death May 26, 1994.
Alberta grew up in hard times as an only child, having lost an infant sister, Ilene, and a young brother, Freddy. She stayed with her Great-grandma McCoy and Grandma Grace most of the time, and because things were so hard, she often didn’t have much food to eat, toys, or the simple things that other children had. Alberta, however, was not defined by her circumstances, and instead chose who she would grow up to become.
Alberta found and fell in love with Russell Weddle, a career-military man, and in July of 1949, they began their lives together. She followed him from the East Coast to the West Coast as he served our great country first in WWII and then combat in Korea. Eventually, along came their children, Ray, Marie, Julie, and Morine. Russell wanted to stop having children at four, but Alberta always wanted seven children, having grown up an only child. Otherwise, Connie, Albert, and Carol, their children, and the children following them would not be on this planet.
Alberta treasured each and every one of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. Everything centered around family for her. She “took care of business,” always giving, and touched the lives of everyone who entered her home and who she met. She was a doer, not a talker. She loved kids, no matter who they were: her own family, children she met in restaurants, especially babies. She was “Mom” to her children’s friends in many ways. Alberta was not a social butterfly, but instead spoke in a genuine way, conveying that she was listening and truly cared.
Alberta had beautiful, soul-piercing eyes, and loved shiny, sparkly, glittery everything! She loved red birds, flamingos, and flowers, and purple was her favorite color. She was not a complainer, instead she was always thankful and grateful. She was sweet and peaceful, and would wash your mouth out with soap if you even THOUGHT about the F-word! Alberta accepted and loved Jesus, and taught her family about the need to ask for forgiveness, and to just to talk to Him. Read John 3:16 and Romans 10:9-10, and believe in His Word. She built character into each of her children while still letting them be themselves. She gave them the power to choose who they could be.
Alberta is survived her children, Ray Weddle (Connie), Deerfield, Missouri, Morine Santmeyer (Jim), Tulsa, Oklahoma, Connie Snyder (Roger), Chelsea, Oklahoma, Albert Weddle (Susan), Fort Scott, Carol Carter (James), Owasso, Oklahoma, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband Russell, she was also preceded in death by her parents and grandparents; infant sister Ilene, brother, Freddy; two daughters, Grace Weddle and Julie (Skaggs) Kantz; a grandson, Matthew Weddle, and great-granddaughter Cadence Marie Crumbly.
Matthew Kendrick will officiate funeral services at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 24, 22024, at the Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene, with burial following at the Evergreen Cemetery, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home. A family visitation will be Wednesday evening, October 23, 2024, 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Friends and family may sign the online guest book and share memories at www.konantzcheney.com.
