George Henry Widner

CHAPIN Funeral service for Dr. George Henry Widner, 85, will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 21, 2015, at Chapin United Methodist Church, with burial with military honors in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7:00 p.m. Friday, November 20, 2015, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, Irmo. Dr. Widner died Sunday, November 15, 2015, in Columbia, S.C. Born May 17, 1930, in St. Mary’s, Ohio, George was the 4th son and child (of 6) born to Minnie G. Swartz and John A. Widner. Proud to be an East-Ender and a St. Mary’s Memorial High School RoughRider (Class of 1948), George attended Miami University of Ohio where he played football for Woody Hayes. In 1950, George enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served for four years and began training as a dental technician. In 1954, he began his studies at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, graduating summa cum laude in the Class of 1959, and embarking on a lifelong passion as a Buckeye. George was devoted to his family, friends, colleagues, and patients. His life demonstrated his commitment to faith, hard work, love, loyalty, generosity, and joy. He will be sorely missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing him. He practiced dentistry from 1959-1998, beginning his practice in Lewisburg, Ohio, and, in 1970, establishing a practice on St. Andrews Road in Columbia. He was a devoted dentist who cared deeply about his patients. He retired in 1998, and his practice was assumed by his daughter, Dr. Gretchen Widner, and Dr. K. Stephen Klinar. While in the U.S. Navy, George earned the Good Conduct Medal, the Navy Occupation Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He was also a Life Loyal Sig of the National Fraternity of Sigma Chi and an honorary member of the Theta Chapter of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon at The Ohio State University which honors scholarship and character among students of dentistry. He was an active member in the S.C. Dental Association; the Lewisburg Lions Club and the Seven Oaks Lions Club (40- year member); and the American Legion Post 193 of Chapin, S.C. He was an avid supporter of Irmo High School and the Irmo High School Booster Club. George is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marian Jenkins Hicks Widner; his son, Dennis George Widner and his wife, Elizabeth Washington Widner, of Anderson, S.C.; his daughter, Gail, of Columbia; his sister, Mary L. Kuck of New Bremen, Ohio; four grandchildren, Nicholas E. Widner of Atlanta, Ga., Sarah E. Hamby and her husband, Jonathan, of Anderson, S.C., Hannah Elyce Widner of Greenville, S.C., and George W. Smith of Columbia; and two great-granddaughters, Aidynn Hamby and Keagan Hamby. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Gretchen W. Widner, DMD; three brothers; and one sister. The family requests that memorials be made to the Chapin United Methodist Church Building Fund, 415 Lexington Avenue, Chapin, SC, 29036.