James Robert Weiss

James Robert Weiss , 91 of Bethel Heights, passed away June 10, 2018. He was born in a tent in the oil fields of Earlsboro, Oklahoma on 31 May 1927 to Charles and Rebecca McKay Weiss. His family moved to Springdale, Arkansas in May of 1936. He attended Springdale High School and played both sides of the line for the undefeated Bulldogs and was selected to the All State Football Team. He joined the US Navy at the age of 17 and spent his early military years on the destroyer, USS Warrington as a Gunners Mate. After marrying Christine Patton of Lowell in 1952, he changed career specialties and became an EOD specialist, frogman and deep sea diver. He graduated from EOD instructor school in 1956 and began his instructor duty at Indianhead Naval Station, Maryland. Later assignments included two tours in French Morocco, Rota NAS, Spain, and repeated tours at Indianhead. His last duty assignment came in 1963 to Eglin AFB, Florida, where he helped establish the new EOD School. After retiring from active duty in 1965 as a Gunners Mate Chief, he began his civilian career as a test engineer for the United States Air Force. Though he helped develop numerous munitions systems over his thirty year career, his proudest achievement was as the project officer in developing the Army's Hellfire Missile, a mainstay in today's military success around the world. During his time at Eglin he coached youth football for over 20 years. After retirement he and Christine returned to Arkansas and established their home in Bethel Heights in 2003. In 2007 he was elected into the Springdale High School Athletic Hall of Fame. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. Survivors include two sons, Charles A. Weiss of Cave Springs; David Weiss and wife Betty of Yorktown, Va.; three grandchildren, Jeremy Weiss, Emily Silvia, and Brad Davis; four great-grandchildren, Sloan and Virginia Weiss, Charlie Davis , and Knox Silvia. Funeral services will be held at Sisco Funeral Chapel of Springdale on Friday, June 15, 2018 at 2 p.m. with Joe Dorman officiating. Burial will follow at Bluff Cemetery with military honors. A visitation will be one hour prior to the service starting at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers donation can be made to Circle of Life Hospice at 901 Jones Road Springdale, Arkansas 72762. Online condolences may be left at www.siscofuneral.com.