Gary J. Weldgen

Gary J. Weldgen, Williamson, NY – Gary passed away of non covid natural causes on December 11, 2021 at the age of 66. He was born in Rochester August 16, 1955. Predeceased by his wife, Elinor (Phoenix) Weldgen, parents Richard H. and Virginia S. Weldgen, and sister Judy C. (Weldgen) Gibson in Houston, Texas.   

He is survived by his siblings, Richard H. and Mattia B. Weldgen Jr., Thomas J. and Laurie S. Weldgen, Marjorie E. (Weldgen) Wilson and husband Richard Wilson, Ronald Gibson; nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.

He is also survived by Elinor’s children, Terrie Phoenix and Tara Phoenix Fowler, her grandchildren Chloe Bridgman and Rebekah Peck who all knew Gary as Grampa, and her great grandchildren.

In addition to their families, Gary and his wife, Elinor both leave our world having made their marks and left their touch, with their own “Village” created with many close friends and associates at their various places of employment, neighbors, customers of their firewood business, years of connections with the YMCA and especially its aquatics programs, and local charities and groups throughout Williamson and surrounding communities.  

Gary was born in Rochester, NY and graduated from Pittsford High School, Class of 1973 where he was a member of the swim team.  He graduated from SUNY Morrisville and went to work as an auto mechanic at Irmers, in East Rochester. He completed many continuing education sessions in the New York City area, becoming a bench specialist mechanic in Mercedes, Porsche and Audi vehicles.  He worked in Henrietta, NY for John Holtz for many years and finally for West Herr in Henrietta, where he was a significant knowledge base on older Mercedes vehicles.  He was a highly trained mechanic with over 50 years of experience, leaving many close friends in the industry and many long term customers through the years, and most recently a very special place in the hearts of the employees at West Herr, including some that worked with him for many years at former local auto businesses.

When not working, Gary loved the outdoors and spent many hours developing and expanding their property, gardens and pond. Elinor shared in this love and working in the gardens.  They both also loved to fish, and they admired and fed many species of birds. 

In true keeping with their own wants and beliefs, they requested no flowers, but rather consider a contribution to the entities mentioned in their obituaries.  

Please leave condolences and comments with email or phone.  Our families would love to hear more from the people whose lives they touched.  We plan a celebration of their lives at a time and date to be determined in 2022 in the spring, remembering that both of them had a special love of gardening and flowers, and enjoyed being surrounded by nature on their property.   

Internment arrangements were private. In lieu of flowers please consider donation to American Diabetes. 

A celebration of Gary’s life will be announced at a date and time to be determined in 2022.  For more information or to leave the family an online condolence, please visit www.murphyfuneralservices.com. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gary J. Weldgen, please visit our floral store.