Darwin Wayne (D.W.) Widmer, passed home to Heaven and into the loving
arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at the age of 92 at home on
Thursday, April 27, 2017, at 11:25 pm. Darwin was surrounded by family
members as he passed peacefully into eternity.
Darwin was born on August 16, 1924- 8/16/24-8+8+8- how cool is that. He
was raised in Parsons, KS, by his Aunt Caroline Porter where he attended
Lincoln Grade School, East Junior High and Parsons Senior High,
graduating in 1941. He graduated from Parsons Junior College in 1943 and
the University of Wisconsin in 1947 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering
and a BA in Business Administration. He completed his education with a
Master’s Degree from the University of Tulsa in 1955 and welcomed his
first-born, Karen Lea, the same day of the ceremony, May 30, 1955.
Mr. Widmer served in the U.S. Navy Reserves as a Seaman First Class
during WWII from 1944-1946, in the Far East – Yokusha, Japan and
Shanghai, China.
Darwin met Elizabeth Juanita Long while working for Firestone Tire and
Rubber Company in Akron, OH. They married on February 14, 1951 and moved
to Bartlesville where Darwin worked for Phillips Petroleum Company as an
Industrial Engineer from 1952-1985 when he retired after 33 years of
service. Dad was an avid stock market trader who loved teaching people
about investing as well. Darwin enjoyed driving a Bartlesville school
bus for 15 years after his retirement.
Darwin and Betty lived life to the fullest over 43 years of marriage and
were always busy raising a family of 3 kids, Karen, Susan and Victor.
This beautiful and friendly couple had 2 fabulous hobbies that they
absolutely enjoyed – dancing and travel. On Friday nights, they enjoyed
music and dancing at the Moose Lodge participating in and teaching
others the art and enjoyment of dancing with all kinds of Ballroom Dance
steps – Swing, Fox Trot, Box Step, Waltz, Two-Step - you name it, they
could do it! They enjoyed many special trips over their lifetime to
places such as Hawaii, Germany, and the Grand Cayman Islands. Dad was
chosen to “Come On Down” as a contestant on THE PRICE IS RIGHT TV show
where he won an electric guitar and large, wooden wine cabinet (thanks
to Mom’s help with the Squeeze Play price)! They also loved to eat at
Murphy’s Steak House in Bartlesville!
Darwin was actively involved in the Jaycees/Junior Achievement from
1953-1960. He served the OSPE - Oklahoma Society of Professional
Engineers - beginning in 1977 for many years and especially enjoyed
helping coordinate the annual Math Counts competition. He was also
involved in Kiwanis activities in the ‘90s. Darwin and Betty were active
members of the First Presbyterian Church, serving the Lord in many ways.
In 1999, Darwin met a wonderful lady, Patsy Tracy, and they soon struck
up a long-lasting special relationship. He was blessed by the loving
companionship of Patsy for over 18 years. Dad and Patsy loved to
socialize and dance at the 55 Plus Club in Bartlesville. They also
enjoyed watching sporting events on TV and cheering on their favorite OK
teams – OU, OSU, OKC Thunder – whether it be football or basketball, Dad
was an avid fan.
Darwin Widmer was a loving and generous husband, father and papa. He was
filled with life, energy, joy and laughter with a great sense of humor
and a great quality of listening and making others feel special. He was
a beautiful man with a beautiful, loving and generous heart. He lived
fully and loved deeply, and he leaves an amazing legacy of lives touched
and changed.
Darwin Widmer was preceded in death by his father, George Arthur, when
he was only 4 years of age; his mother, Mavie Marie, when she turned 89
here in Bartlesville; and his loving wife of 43 years, Elizabeth Juanita
“Betty” Long Widmer in 1994.
He is survived by his oldest daughter,
Karen Lea Clark and her husband of 40 years, Randy, who reside in
Arlington, TX; daughter Susan and her husband Chuck Alcedo of Arlington,
Texas; Son Victor Gordon Widmer and Lee Ann Widmer of Dallas, TX, along
with grandchildren Madison Alcedo of New York City, Lauren Elizabeth
Widmer residing in Fayetteville, AR and namesake Jarrod Wayne Widmer,
attending University of Kansas, Lawrence.
Dad was a man of integrity and character and held those virtues in high
esteem, passing those values along to his family. We are grateful and
honored to have called him Dad and Papa. He was a very strong, kind,
friendly, caring, giving man who fought like a trooper against several
physical ailments at the end of his life. All who knew him will treasure
his wonderful memory. We look forward to a grand reunion with him in
Heaven one day. The suffering has ended. Rest in peace, Daddy.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 3, from 4:00 – 8:00 pm at
Stumpff Funeral Home, 1600 SE Washington Blvd, Bartlesville, with family
present to greet friends.
Services will be held on Thursday, May 4, at 2:00 pm in the First
Presbyterian Church, 505 S. Dewey, Bartlesville.
Interment will follow
the service at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Donations are welcome to Meals on Wheels, First Presbyterian Church, 505
S. Dewey, Bartlesville, Ok 74003 or Veterans of Foreign Wars at vfw.org.
The information on this site is provided free for the purpose of researching your genealogy. This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for your own research, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The information contained in this site may not be copied to any other site without written "snail-mail" permission. If you wish to have a copy of a donor's material, you must have their permission. All information found on these pages is under copyright of Oklahoma Cemeteries. This is to protect any and all information donated. The original submitter or source of the information will retain their copyright. Unless otherwise stated, any donated material is given to Oklahoma Cemeteries to make it available online. This material will always be available at no cost, it will always remain free to the researcher.
