J. Weldon Smith

James Weldon Smith was born to Frank E. and Viola (Bronstad) Smith in Waco, Texas, December 14, 1929. He was baptized on January 26, 1930 at First Lutheran Church of Waco, and confirmed at Central Lutheran Church of Dallas.

Following graduation from Waco High School in 1947, Weldon studied at Clifton Junior College, Southern Methodist University, and Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. After graduation from Luther in 1951, he followed God’s call to Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota for three years of post graduate work and a year of internship at First Lutheran Church of Minot, North Dakota.

Following his ordination in May of 1955, Weldon joined the U.S. Air Force where he served as Chaplain in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Upon completion of his tour of duty, he entered the parish ministry, first serving as pastor at Upper Wolf Lutheran in Robinson, Kansas. While there, he met and married Harriet Anderson from Omaha, Nebraska on July 16, 1961. They were blessed with the arrival of their first daughter, Sonja, shortly before moving back to Texas. Weldon’s next call involved establishing a mission congregation, Holy Trinity Lutheran in Lubbock, where they welcomed another daughter, Maren. His next parish was Memorial Lutheran in Texas City, where he became “the pastor on a bike” and “the day-off fisherman”! In addition to his parish responsibilities, he also served as conference chairman. From there came a call to Zion Lutheran in McGregor. In that town, both daughters graduated from high school and set off to attend “Dad’s alma mater” Luther College. On November 8, 1985, Harriet passed away suddenly from a heart attack. The care and compassion of the people of Zion during that difficult time was a real blessing. At the Clifton Lutheran Sunset Home, Weldon spent his final years of active service as development director and chaplain, caring for the elderly. During his tenure there, he met and married Betty Carlson of Cranfills Gap.

In “retirement,” he served as interim pastor at New Life in Christ Lutheran of Duncanville, Grace Lutheran of Ennis, Faith Lutheran of Meridian, St. John Lutheran of Bartlett, First Lutheran of Waco, and Hope Lutheran of Comanche. Longtime members of Our Savior’s Lutheran of Norse, he and Betty left that congregation in 2011 to establish Weldon’s second mission congregation, Peace Lutheran of the North American Lutheran Church. He served there as pastor for several years and faithful member until his death.

Before Weldon’s official retirement, he took up his woodworking hobby, filling his own home and his daughters’ homes with furniture. And he always planned some wood related project for his grandchildren when they came to visit.

Weldon Smith lived out his final years at the Sunset Home, like his parents before him.

He will be remembered as a loving and compassionate man. He was an intellectual, a thinker, and a writer who provided spiritual leadership and mentorship to congregants and family alike. And while he read and wrote seriously and tirelessly, his warmth and humor permeated all his interactions. Teasing was Weldon’s love language.

Weldon Smith passed from this life on October 7, 2025 in Clifton. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 10th at Clifton Funeral Home; and his memorial service will be held at St. Olafs Kirke, The Rock Church of Norse, TX at 2 pm on October 11th.

He is survived by his wife Betty, by daughters and their husbands and children: Sonja and Joe Meyer, and granddaughters Katrina and Annalise; Maren and Alan Nagorzanski, and grandchildren Garrett and Jenna. Also by brother Don Smith and his children and grandchildren, and sister Dorothy Kneten and her children and grandchildren.

Survivors also include brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Ruth Anderson, and Paul and Jackie Anderson; Don Kiker, and George Kiker. In addition, stepsons and daughters and their families: Pat and Maurice Johnson, Owen and Sandi Carlson, and Lyndell and Kelly Carlson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lutheran Sunset Ministries or North American Lutheran Church NALC at NALC Continental Office 2113 Harwood Road Suite 309, PMB 409 Bedford, TX 76021-4703.