Private First Class Weatherford was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On 24 August 1950, he suffered a laryngeal obstruction and died at Pusan, South Korea.

Weatherford was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.