Theodore “Ted” Joseph Webber Sr., 78, passed peacefully into eternal life, surrounded by his family and faithful friend, Frank.

Born on March 29, 1947, in Chicago, Illinois, he was the first of three sons born to the late Joe and Muriel (Beuder) Webber. Shortly after his birth, the family relocated to California, settling in Hawthorne, a suburb of Los Angeles, where his parents would lovingly make their home for the rest of their lives.

Ted attended Catholic grammar school in the 50s where the good nuns instilled in him the foundations of the Catholic faith- roots that would later guide him back to the traditional “Faith of our Fathers,” to which he remained devoted until the end of his life. He went on to attend Serra High School, where he was taught by the religious brothers of the Society of Mary, whom he fondly described as “tough brothers.”

A determined and hardworking young man, Ted worked his way through college, transferring from El Camino Junior College to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. There, under the Jesuit guidance, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1970.

Ted carried a lifelong love of sports. As a boy, he played Little League baseball, proudly recalling a home run he hit as a nine-year-old in an All-Star game. In high school, he played basketball all four years, earning his varsity letter and being named co-MVP his senior year. His dedication continued into college, where he achieved his dream of playing for Loyola as a walk-on his senior season.

It was in college that Ted met and married the love of his life, Mary Martin, whom he married on March 15, 1969. Ted’s love for Mary was a beacon throughout his life, and that love deepened with each passing year. In their early years, they enjoyed dancing- “those were the days” he often said- and even won a dance competition in their early 30s. Throughout their lives, they were inseparable, often seen holding hands on their daily walks around the block well into their 70s.

Ted and Mary welcomed four children. He deeply loved his family and worked hard to provide a good life for them. The first ten years of their marriage were spent in Hawthorne, close to extended family, where Ted began his career developing analytical and supervisory skills in the Corporate Compensation and Benefits Dept of the Farmers Insurance Group Inc.

After a decade, he relocated his growing family to Camarillo, California, where Ted embarked on a distinguished career in the aerospace industry. As a manufacturing engineering manager at Northrop Grumman for close to 20 years, he proudly contributed to the B-2 bomber and F-18 programs.

Ted’s love of sports was easily passed on to all of his children. He spent many years coaching his sons’ teams and sharing not only his skills but also his belief in hard work, discipline, and perseverance. He was always his children’s biggest cheerleader in all their endeavors – not just sports – encouraging them to be as good as they set their minds to becoming, so long as they were willing to put in the effort.

As a teenager, he enjoyed camping trips and water skiing with his family, especially with the Beuders, later taking along his own wife and children. He cherished time spent with his family, including trips around the country – some for sports, some to visit extended family, others to enjoy the beauty of this country. As a young boy, his mom would often take him to the “picture show,” and as an adult, he continued this tradition by taking his children to see some great ones at a couple of the restored theaters in Hollywood. His love of sports set in once again, and he would often take his sons down to L.A. to watch some state high school basketball championship games. For a few seasons in the late 80s his family also attended many Loyola Marymount basketball games.

As empty nesters, Ted and Mary embraced the opportunity to travel. They spent a few weeks exploring the United States, sometimes following the historic Route 66, appreciating the beauty and rich, young history of this country. They also enjoyed trips to visit their children and grandchildren who lived out of state. Ted and Mary were blessed to make a pilgrimage to Rome, where they experienced firsthand the deep roots and traditions of the Catholic faith that meant so much to Ted throughout his life.

In the early 90s, Ted became increasingly aware that something was amiss in the Catholic Church, noticing it particularly in the education his children were receiving, or not receiving!! He realized that same solid foundation he had received from the good sisters at St. Catherine’s was no longer being passed on in the Church. Through the graces of the Holy Rosary, which he began leading his family in daily, Divine Providence placed strong and faithful traditional Catholics in his path. Through them, he learned that the Latin Mass was still being offered only about an hour away by an independent priest, Fr. Schell, who himself had attend St. Mary’s when it was a Jesuit institution.

Ted and Mary began attending the Latin Mass, and when they introduced it to their children, they were immediately intrigued, and it wasn’t long before they were all Latin Mass goers. Following the counsel of Fr. Schell, Ted did not fear to move in the direction of the SSPX. His two youngest children later boarded at and graduated from St. Mary’s Academy, and upon graduation, his son Steven entered the SSPX seminary.

During this time, the economy created some hardships with Ted’s job at Northrop, so he began to look elsewhere for work. In late 1996, he left Northrop and began commuting to Washington State for a few months before moving there in early 1997. He worked with Boeing as a manufacturing engineering planner on major aircraft programs. Ted and Mary became part of a wonderful SSPX mission chapel close by where they formed lifelong friendships, and briefly, Ted served as coordinator of the chapel.

In 1999, due to the instability of the world economy and global politics- a topic which Ted was always interested in and kept reasonably a breast of through extensive reading and studying, he found himself out of work again……

As his youngest daughter was attending St. Mary’s College here in St. Mary’s, he was encouraged to contact a local business owner. The late Ken Moats told Ted that if he could get himself to St. Mary’s, then he’d have a job with KG Moats and Sons. He did get himself there, and for 8 years he worked for KG Moats as an office manager. In 2007 another contract opportunity came his way with Boeing, so he decided to go back to Washington for another four years, while keeping some roots in St. Mary's. In 2011, he made his final move back to St. Mary’s, although this time as a retired man.

Ted loved St. Mary’s and embraced its Catholic traditions with fervor, assisting at daily mass and finding deep joy in practicing his Faith. When his son Fr. Steven Webber was ordained a priest (Ted’s proudest yet humblest moment) Ted was a zealous server for his son’s private Masses that Fr. blessed his parents with at their family home.

In St. Mary's, Ted had the privilege to watch the ranks of his grandchildren grow. He enjoyed having them come visit for birthdays, holidays, or any ol’ day where family card games of Hollywood poker (and he’ll always be known for “buying” the most cards) were a treat! His love of sports remained strong and he proudly coached the varsity basketball team in the early 2000s at St. Mary’s Academy, years he cherished. Blessed with so many grandsons, there was never a year in sports without someone to cheer on. Whether it be basketball, baseball, or soccer, Ted rarely missed an opportunity to watch those youngsters play. He especially cherished the rare opportunity he had to watch his two oldest grandsons play, as they lived a ways down the road, in Colorado. And he could hardly pass up an opportunity to pass along his knowledge and love of the game to the next generation.

Ted also enjoyed golf and bowling, but more as a hobby. You could often see him at Wamego bowl on a Sunday afternoon with his wife, daughter, and a handful of grand kids in tow. He also enjoyed bowling with friends – especially with Mary by his side.

About three years ago, Ted suffered a heart attack, but he rallied through it and enjoyed a few more years of life with his family, which allowed him to know the joys and blessings of seeing his “children’s children to the third and fourth generation” with the birth of his first great-grand daughter. Unfortunately, his health was quietly declining at this time and in late October, he was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. He fought to heal as much as he knew how, but by January, it seemed that nothing more could be done; the pneumonia was not budging. He resigned himself to the fact that God calls us all when He will, so he prepared himself to begin the true life, Eternal Life. As he often said, “you can’t escape the cross.” He carried his cross as best he could. His wife took exceptional care of him in those last months, cherishing every moment they had left, and he often called her his angel. When his last days on this earth came, Ted received the last rites of the Catholic Church along with the Apostolic Blessing. His grand children came to pray the rosary at his bedside. His son, Fr. Webber, through many tears, led the family in the Roman Ritual’s prayers for the dying and many rosaries throughout the night and day. He was surrounded by all of his children and his dear friend Frank when he breathed his final breath.

“He fought the good fight, He finished the race, He kept the Faith.”

Eternal rest grant unto him oh Lord, and let the perpetual Light shine upon him. +RIP

We thank you Dad, for handing us what you received.

He is survived by his loving wife, Mary, of 56 years; his four children Ted Jr. (Stacy) Webber, Tracey (Eric) Groghan, Fr. Steven Webber, and Amy (Chris) Garland, 19 grandchildren and 2 great grand children, his 2 brothers Dr. Tim Webber and Dr. Terry (Gloria) Webber who he loved dearly.

Ted was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Murial Webber.

The family will receive friends from 2:00-4:00 PM, Tuesday, February 24 at Piper Funeral Home in St. Marys. A rosary will be recited at the Immaculata, 701 N. 2nd Street, St. Marys, KS at 5:20 pm. A requiem mass will be offered for Ted at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, February 25, also at The Immaculata, with burial following in Our Lady of Peace cemetery. The Mass will be livestreamed and can be viewed by clicking the following link at the time of the service: Click to view the service. 

A luncheon following the burial will take place in St. Joseph's Hall.

Memorial contributions in Ted’s memory may be made to The Immaculata, for the annual St. Joseph’s Parish Altar, and may be made through this LINK or left in care of Piper Funeral Home, 714 Maple St., St. Marys, KS 66536.