Flo Weber gave freely of her time to volunteer with local organizations and, along with her husband Carl, was an avid supporter of the arts.
Florence (Flo) Dean Woodman Weber passed away July 13, surrounded in love by her five children. Flo touched many people with her positive outlook on life and her gentle kind spirit.
Flo was born in Evanston, Illinois, June 25, 1931. She graduated from Evanston Township High School and enrolled at Northwestern. Flo left Northwestern to marry her high school sweetheart, Carl J. Weber in 1952. Flo and Carl immediately moved to New York City living on 90th West. After two years, Flo and Carl returned to Evanston. While in Evanston, Flo and Carl had three children (Joe, Wendy, Nat). In 1959, Flo and Carl moved to Orinda and added two more children (Liz and Gretchen).
Flo was very dedicated to raising her children and was very active in the community. She served on numerous boards including the Orinda Woman’s Club, AAUW, Democratic Party, Orinda Park Pool and The Orinda Association (OA). Flo took immense enjoyment on the OA board when the City was incorporated in 1986. Her other volunteer efforts included being a Brownie leader, musical accompanist, Meals-on-Wheels volunteer, working with the Head Start program and the yard duty lady at Orinda Union School (she called herself the “Yard Duty Fuzz”), to name a few.
An accomplished musician, Flo returned to Diablo Valley College in the 1970s and ultimately graduated in 1978 from the University of California Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. Flo went on to have an illustrious career in adult education for both Acalanes and Alameda County School Districts teaching music, history and current events. She also enjoyed sharing with her classes the stories of her many worldly travels with Carl. Flo returned to school to study California Natural History and was a docent at the Oakland Museum for over 30 years.
Music and the arts were an important part of Flo’s joy. Flo played piano and sang in various groups including, Women Sing, Cantare, Village Singers, Weber Family Caroling Group and other local groups. Flo and Carl were patrons of the arts and enjoyed supporting San Francisco Opera, ACT (American Conservatory Theatre), Berkeley Repertory, San Francisco and East Bay Symphony, Cal Shakes and Lesher Center for the Arts.
Flo was an avid bridge player. She and Carl regularly joined many friends for foursomes, hosting or playing at friends’ homes, as well as at the Oakland Athletic Club/Bellevue Club.
Flo, a spiritual woman, raised her children at Santa Maria Church before moving to Newman Holy Spirit Church in Berkeley. Raised Episcopalian, she frequently attended St. Stephens Church in Orinda.
Flo joins her beloved husband of 65 years, Carl J. Weber (deceased 2017) with the Lord. Flo will be greatly missed by her loving family, Joe Weber (Judith) of Portola Valley and their children Elle Koleckar (Kevin), Matt (Austin), and Sam; Wendy Thorpe of Walnut Creek and her children Natalie Munoz (Rene), Joanna Warden (Jamie), and Andrew; Nat Weber (Jill) of Moraga and their children Allie and Ted; Liz Witbeck (Ray), of Orinda and their children Esther and Hannah, and Gretchen Latimer (Jim) of Orinda and their children Katie Martinez (Andrew), Nick, and Jay. She is also survived by nine great grandchildren Grace, Shepherd, Carpenter, Lucas, Michael, Benjamin, Avery, Charlotte and Eleanor. Flo is also survived by her sister-in-law, Natalie Weber.
Her Celebration of Life is Oct. 9 at the Orinda Community Church, 10 Irwin Way, at 2 p.m. Please join us in celebrating a magnificent life well lived.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Oakland Museum of California.
