WA - David Benner ("Dave") Weaver passed away peacefully on April 27, 2025 after a long fight with several medical conditions. Born on February 8, 1947 in Orange County, California to the Reverend J. Benner Weaver and Mildred (Smeltzer) Weaver, he spent his school-age years in Denver, Colorado but lived his senior year of high school in Seattle, and graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 1969.

Rather than be drafted into the Army during the height of the Viet Nam war, Dave joined the Air Force and was stationed in Weisbaden, Germany for three years. For part of that time he lived with noted German theologian and Lutheran pastor, Martin Niemoller, who had opposed the Nazis during World War II and who, as a result, had been imprisoned in the concentration camp at Dachau. Dave's time in Europe gave rise to a lifelong passion for international travel and humanitarian service.

Dave's work career included a stint in Washington, D.C. as a Congressional aide, time as a camp manager on the Alaska Pipeline, building an award-winning house in Seattle, buying and renovating old homes and small apartment buildings, and acting as a real estate agent for Windermere Real Estate.

His passion, however (aside from his family), was international humanitarian work. As an active member of University District Rotary Club in Seattle, he traveled to Ethiopia at least eighteen times, vaccinating children against polio, doing water projects in rural Ethiopia, bringing books and computers for libraries, building housing for war widows and their children and many other projects. In partnership with other dedicated Rotarians, he built schools in rural Guatemala, brought wheelchairs to Viet Nam, and school supplies to Fiji. Locally, he participated in Rotary charitable activities and belonged to many civic organizations over time, including the World Without War Council, Citizens' Education Center Northwest, the Municipal League and other groups. He formed deep and lasting friendships with his fellow Rotarians and others.

The deepest dedication of his life, however, was to his family. He was a beloved son, brother and husband and was an active and extraordinary father to his two beautiful daughters, Jennifer and Anna. He loved spending time with them and passing on the joy and strong values that guided his life.

Dave is survived by his wife Karen Southworth Weaver; two daughters, Anna and Jennifer (Mark); two grandchildren and his brother Don Weaver (Ginger) of East Wenatchee. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Laurel. The entire family is deeply grateful to Horizon House, its residents and its dedicated staff members, who helped care for him so wonderfully during the last year of his life.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, June 22 at University Congregational United Church of Christ, 4515 16th Ave NE in Seattle, beginning at 2:00 pm. All who knew and loved Dave are warmly welcomed to join in honoring Dave's remarkable life and wishing him Godspeed on his next remarkable journey.

The family suggests donations to University District Rotary Service Fund, P.O. Box 31125, Seattle, WA 98103, or to your favorite humanitarian charity.