Tuesday, December 5, 2023
A funeral Mass will be Saturday for Richard J. Weilminster, the 1986 recipient of Pennsylvania College of Technology's Master Teacher Award, who died Monday, Dec. 4, at age 79.
Weilminster, who retired as lead horticulture professor in 2006 after 34 years at Penn College and Williamsport Area Community College, held emeritus status among the institution's faculty.
In addition to the Veronica M. Muzic Master Teacher Award, the college's highest faculty honor, he was a recipient of the American Nursery and Landscape Association's L.C. Chadwick Educators Award in recognition of his outstanding work with students.
In 2006, he received the Frederick J. Mummert Distinguished Service Award from the Pennsylvania Landscape Nursery Association. He was a member of that organization's board of directors for more than 20 years, as well as a PLNA life member and Hall of Fame honoree.
In May 2008, The Richard J. Weilminster Arboretum – a living laboratory for Penn College horticulture students – was dedicated at the Schneebeli Earth Science Center.
Friends will be received from 6-8 p.m. Friday at the McCarty-Thomas Funeral Home, 733 Broad St., Montoursville. The service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 100 Walnut St., Montoursville, followed by a luncheon at The Villa, 2016 E. Third St., Williamsport.
The family invites memorial contributions to the Richard J. Weilminster Scholarship Fund, One College Avenue, Williamsport, PA 17701.
A full obituary is available in Wednesday's Williamsport Sun-Gazette and at the funeral home's website.
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