Obituary of Constance Sue Weaver

Connie Weaver of Portage, Michigan, at seventy-six years of age, transitioned from this life on Saturday, the twenty-first of July, two thousand eighteen.  

Born Constance Sue Waltz on June sixth, nineteen hundred and forty-two, to loving parents Ruth Adeleen (Fugitt) and Louis Paul Waltz, Sr., Connie’s early years were filled with love and laughter and the companionship of her dog, Daisy.  

At the age of thirteen, Connie found her life irrevocably changed when her father died suddenly of a heart attack.

In 1965, Connie earned her Master of Arts in English.  She began her career in English Education as an Instructor at Western Michigan University (WMU) that same year.  Having set her sights for herself higher, Connie, with the support of her then husband, James F. Weaver, continued her education and earned a Doctor of Philosophy in English in 1970.  Also, in 1970, Connie gave birth to her son, John Kenneth Weaver.

Moving forward in her career, Connie moved through the ranks as Assistant and Associate Professor and earned her place as a full Professor of English at WMU in 1981.  Surpassing the challenges of this new role, Connie authored at least twenty books in her thirty years of service to WMU, its students, and faculty.

After retiring from WMU, Connie held an endowed chair position in reading and language arts (Teacher Education) at Miami University in Ohio for many years.

In her son’s words, Connie’s professional passion was teaching educators how to teach grammar.  In her career, Connie authored books, authored articles for professional journals, co-authored publications, edited publications, and assisted other professionals with their publications.  Connie became internationally-recognized as a scholar in reading, literacy, and the teaching of grammar. Connie was solicited by many organizations throughout the globe to come to their location and present her educational material.

Connie enjoyed a passion for travelling and water recreation.  One of Connie’s more exciting adventures was white-water rafting in Costa Rica with her life-partner, Rolland Batdorff.  Connie’s love of travel took her all over the globe where she saw and experienced many wonders with friends and family.

Through a passion for education and human connection, Connie found a love for healing energies and self-awareness.  Connie became a Holy Fire Karuna Reiki Master. As a volunteer with Heartland Hospice, Connie used her healing talents to bring love, comfort, and dignity to hospice residents.  Connie led the path to the creation of a Reiki healing program at the Unity Church of Kalamazoo.

Throughout her journey of life, Connie was a wonderful mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother.  Connie was also a joyous and loving friend to many. Connie’s charitable contributions supported her communities.  Connie is very loved and her presence here on Earth will be greatly missed.

Connie was preceded in death by her father, Louis Paul Waltz, Sr. (June 29th, 1955), her mother, Ruth Adeleen Waltz (Feb. 25th, 1993), her brother Louis (Paul) Paul Waltz, Jr. (Nov. 21st, 1997), her former husband, James (Jim) Frederick Weaver (Oct. 20, 2011), and her life-partner Irving (Rollie) Rolland Batdorff (Sept. 30th, 2013).  Connie is survived by her only child, John Kenneth Weaver, his wife, Christina Lynn Weaver, Connie’s grandchildren, Samantha Arwen Weaver and Caiden Timothy Weaver, Connie’s feline, Sweetie, and many friends, colleagues, and students throughout the world.