George Sylvester Widmyer, 1915-1999"When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died These words from the pen of Isaac Watts reflect the life and ministry of George Sylvester Widmyer. His papers speak of his vision of the cross which God used to call him to ordained ministry. He wrote of one night, in his early teen years, when his mother pointed his attention to the twinkling stars in God’s mammoth sky. While gazing at the mystery of God’s heavenly beauty, he beheld a cluster of stars in the form of a cross. From that moment he believed that God had fingered him to proclaim the love of Jesus expressed most fully in that cross. George S. Widmyer entered God’s world on November 1, 1915, and lived each day to its fullest. One of seven children born to the late Ernest and Daisy Stottler Widmyer, he lived his early life in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Lowell Elaine Bartlett Widmyer, on March 30, 1966. Into that beautiful union came four children: George "Fred" Widmyer, Mark L. Widmyer, Sharon P. Dayton, and Cynda C. Widmyer. On August 19, 1979, marriage united George to Eva Parker Snyder. Following his retirement in 1980, they moved to Lahmansville, West Virginia, where they resided until his death two days prior to Christmas of 1999. In addition to his wife, Eva, and four children, George is survived by three stepdaughters: Barbara Snyder, Carolyn Goldizen, and Jo Ann Harman; 10 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; two sisters and two brothers. In retirement, he delighted in preaching in various pulpits. He continued actively in the local Ministerial Association, as past president of the AARP, past Lt. Governor of West Virginia District 5 Kiwanis International, the Ruritan Club, Burlington United Family Services and the American Red Cross. George Widmyer entered the Virginia Conference as part of the former Evangelical United Brethren Church, forming one segment of the union resulting in the present United Methodist Church. He received his first appointment in 1938 at the Berkeley Springs Circuit. From that time until his retirement in 1980, he served pastorates in Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland which included the Blairton-Greensburg Charge, Pleasant Valley, South Branch, Edinburg, Mt. Clinton, Augusta, Potomac Park, Singers Glen and Middleburg. Always the encourager, he introduced his children to Jesus, challenged the people of his churches to growing discipleship, and became a role model for younger colleagues in ordained ministry. Following his participation in the pre-Christmas service of the Laymansville United Methodist Church on the evening of December 23, 1999, he returned to his home and died unexpectedly. George died as he lived — joyously, expectantly and ready to meet his Lord. ". . .it is sweet to know as I onward go, the way of the cross leads home." — Paul C. Bailey |