Richard Strahan Weldon

Richard Strahan Weldon Sr., our wonderful Poppy, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, was born in Lordsburg, New Mexico on April 19, 1937. He married his best friend and the love of his life, Pauline Cantrell, on August 8, 1963 and created a loving family with three children. Richard lost his battle with cancer on March 9, 2018. He was surrounded by family who loved him and treasured every moment they spent with him. Richard attended Cliff High in Cliff, New Mexico and Lordsburg High School in Lordsburg, New Mexico. He served in the United Sates Marine Corp. and then graduated from Texas Western University in El Paso, Texas with a degree in Fine Arts. He taught at Jefferson High School in 1966. Richard worked for Southern Pacific Railroad (Union Pacific) in El Paso, Texas until he retired from Union Pacific in 1999 with 42 years of service. Richard still enjoyed weekly coffee with his railroad buddies in Las Cruces. He was a proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution. Richard loved his family and friends and he loved his art. Along with being a very talented artist, he was a gifted storyteller. He will always be remembered in the beautiful paintings he shared with us and the stories he told us. Some had life lessons and some just made us laugh He never forgot anyone who crossed his path and they surely never forgot him either. Richard enjoyed camping and fishing and he spent a lot of time in Alpine, Arizona where he met wonderful people with whom he became great friends. He taught his children and grandchildren how to live, dream, work and play hard, drive, fish, target shoot, and how to do just about everything. The best thing he taught us all is how to love and value family above all else. There was never a minute that we did not know how much he loved us all and we loved him back. Our Poppy enriched our lives and he will be missed every single moment of every single day. Richard was predeceased by his parents Frank Weldon, Jr. and Gail Isabel Strahan Weldon; brother Frank Weldon; brother-in-law Chandos Cantrell; and sister-in-law Barbara Cantrell Ames (Bud); brother-in-law Harris Cantrell passed March 10, 2018. Richard is survived by his wife Pauline Cantrell Weldon; his children Rick Weldon (Jan), Cindi Weldon Vickers, and Jeff Weldon; his grandchildren and great grandchildren, Courtney Weldon McVay (Jeremy, Jacob, Jessie), Lauren Weldon Kerr (Jeff, Michaela, Kyler), Richard Christopher Brown (Gillian, Lainey), Alyssa Weldon Stacey (Jeff, Weldon, Winnie), Cristin Weldon (Will, Matt), his niece who was like a daughter to him, Barbara Cantrell Hughes (Shannon, Cody, Connor, Devan), his brother Fred Weldon (Ann), his sister Rebecca Aalfs (Dan), sister-in-law Thelma Cantrell and sister-in-law Diane Weldon, and many nieces and nephews and wonderful friends. We wish to thank the wonderful doctors and staff at MD Anderson in Houston, Texas for blessing us with 8 more years with Poppy after his cancer diagnosis. We also want to thank the caring staff at Mesilla Valley Hospital in Las Cruces, New Mexico for ensuring Poppy’s last days were as comfortable as possible. As an expression of sympathy, donation may be made to Mesilla Valle Hospice, 299 Montana Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88005. Gathering of Remembrance will be from 12:00pm to 1:00pm on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at Sunset Funeral Home Northeast. Memorial Service will follow at 1:00pm. Interment is private. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home Northeast. Please visit our online registry book at: www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net