Wheeling Native George S. Weaver Jr. Dies at 92

"Those who knew him will remember a man who never lost his sense of adventure." That’s the line that sticks with you when you read George S. Weaver Jr.’s obituary, because it captures the essence of a life lived not just in the quiet of a Wheeling, W.Va., hospital room, but on the steep, sun-drenched slopes of Aspen’s four mountains. Weaver died peacefully at his home on June 22, at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy that feels less like a resume and more like a trail map of a life well-traveled.

For 45 years, Aspen wasn’t just a vacation spot for Weaver and his wife, Shirley; it was a second home, a place where the thin mountain air mixed with the warmth of family gatherings. You can feel the weight of that devotion in the details. While they traveled extensively during their 71-year marriage, the West always called them back. The Roaring Fork Valley became the anchor for generations of family and friends, a place where holiday celebrations were marked by the crunch of snow under boots and the clink of glasses around dinner tables.

Weaver didn’t just watch the mountain life; he participated in it with a vigor that defied his years. He took on Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Aspen Highlands, and Buttermilk, treating each run like a personal challenge. He remained active well into his later years, taking his final downhill run at age 87. That’s not just longevity; that’s a specific kind of courage, the kind that comes from trusting your balance on ice and rock.

But to reduce Weaver to just a skier would be to miss the bedrock of his character. Born in Wheeling on May 29, 1934, he built a career on strengthening communities. He helped guide financial enterprises, including Hazlett, Burt & Watson Inc., which earned a seat on the New York Stock Exchange while he served as president and chief executive officer. In 2000, he assembled investors to establish Security National Trust, headquartered right there in Wheeling. He served a term in the West Virginia House of Delegates, holding leadership positions in education, healthcare, and charity. He had a gift for seeing opportunities where others saw challenges, a trait that made friends and colleagues seek his counsel.

Yet, the obituary notes that many of the lessons he passed down — about integrity, curiosity, hard work, and gratitude — were offered not in boardrooms or legislative chambers, but on chairlifts and mountain trails. It’s a reminder that for people like Weaver, the office was often outdoors, the meetings were informal, and the community was built on shared experience rather than just shared zip codes.

He is survived by Shirley, his wife of 71 years, and their four children: George III, John, David, and Mary. There are 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren waiting to inherit those stories. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shirley M. Weaver Cancer Research Fund, a fitting tribute to a man who spent decades caring for others.

If you look closely at the history of Aspen, you’ll find that its soul is made up of people like Weaver, individuals who didn’t just buy property but bought into the community, who skied the same runs as locals and helped build the institutions that keep the valley running. It’s a warmth that persists long after the last lift has closed for the day.