John Eugene Weiler, Jr. was born in Duncan, OK, becoming the third genera­tion of Army men in his family. He graduat­ed from Austin High School, TX, and then attended the University of Texas, where he studied engineering for three years before his appointment to West Point.

None of John’s West Point roommates or comrades will be surprised by John’s achieve­ments in this memorial. At West Point, John enjoyed fencing and spent many enjoyable afternoons sharing his skills in the sport with his classmates. From John they learned the complex parries and thrusts of the sport. In addition, John always was willing to assist his fellow cadets with math and engineering subjects, in which he excelled, and always in a patient, caring way. After graduation in 1960, he first served in Germany with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and later with the 43rd Artillery, before leaving the Army as a captain in 1967.

After working for several years at the Texas Highway Commission, in real estate and computer programming capacities, John took a position at French Tool as a design engineer. Later, he worked with Southwestern Bell and Claydesta Communications. Subsequently, John re­turned to real estate and initially worked with Stephenson Real Estate. Later, he formed his own independent brokerage, Weiler Associates. John retired from real es­tate in 1999, to a delayed pursuit of his real passion, flying. In this new life, John first built and then flew his own twin-engine experimental aircraft and rapidly became permanently captivated with perfecting and flying his wondrous machine.

One of Rob Koontz’s retired friends, Dr. Ervin Philips, visited John in Midland, TX. John joyously took Dr. Philips for a flight in his unique experimental airplane. Not only was Dr. Philips impressed by John’s excep­tional competence as an airplane engineer, but he likewise was impressed with his com­petent piloting of this one-of-a-kind aircraft. John proudly and expertly flew over the ma­jestic and beautiful plains and hills of Texas.

Dr. Philips enjoyed John’s explanations of what was required to build such an un­usual craft and what special skills were re­quired to fly it. In this, John demonstrated his joy of flying this complex craft, put together with his own hands. Those who knew John believe his devotion to build­ing and flying his own experimental aircraft truly exemplified many of John’s strongest character traits: his thoroughness, engi­neering excellence, enthusiasm, and eager willingness to share his talents and capabili­ties with others.

Fatefully, John suddenly became ill in 2008 and quickly succumbed to cancer. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and classmates. Now he is honorably en­shrined as an eternal member of the Long Gray Line. John leaves his wife Shirley, who he described as “the Rock” of his life. Shirley shared John’s love of flying, has a pilot’s license and also enjoys aerial naviga­tion. In addition to Shirley, he is survived by his daughter, Melissa Lea Hill, of Reno, NV; stepson, Paul Kammerdiener and his wife Patricia of Plainview, TX; and step­daughter, Wanda Morgan and her husband Douglas of Ossining, NY. Also surviv­ing are two brothers, Wade H. Weiler and his wife Bet of Garland, TX, and James P. Weiler of Austin; and one sister, Louise Kiteley of Longmont, CO. He leaves six grandchildren, Bryce Dufford of Reno, NV; Sherrie Wilson and her husband Larry of Simpsonville, SC; Allison Hill and her hus­band Kevin of Madison, WI; Jason Morgan and his wife Melody of Kansas City, MO; Crystal Rushin of Plainview, TX, and Amber Lambert and her husband Casey of Lockney, TX; six great-grandchildren: Ryan and Jessica Wilson of Simpsonville, SC; Anne Marie, Christian, and Bryan Rushin of Plainview, TX; Jacob and Jackson Morgan of Kansas City, MO; and four niec­es and their families.