Donald H. Wideman

Donald H. "Don" Wideman, 86, died suddenly Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002, in his North Canton home.



Born Jul. 11, 1916, in Upland, CA, he was the son of the late Clyde Arby and Flossie Fern Holden Wideman. At a young age, Don moved with his family to Medina, OH, and graduated from Medina High School. He attended Spencerian Business College, Cleveland, and was a graduate of the Cleveland College of Embalming. Don married the former Ethel J. Brain on Mar. 6, 1941.



He served with the Navy Seabees in the building of the Alaskan Highway during World War II. Don was licensed by the State of Ohio as an embalmer in 1941, and as a funeral director in 1942. He worked for several prominent northeastern Ohio funeral firms before coming to North Canton in 1955, and opening the Wideman Funeral Home.



Don was a member of Community Christian Church, charter member and Past Master of Wm. H. Hoover Lodge 770 F. & A.M., charter member and Past Worthy Patron of Wm. H. Hoover Chapter 580 O.E.S., charter member and past president of Community Chapter A.A.R.P., charter member of B.P.O.E. 2029, charter member of the Lions Club, and past Commander of American Legion Post 419, all in North Canton. Additionally, he was Past W.O.S. of Washington Shrine, and was a former member of the National and State of Ohio Funeral Directors Associations.



Survivors include two daughters, Jane (Craig) Smith of Bath, and Joan Fisher of North Canton; a son, Mark (Betsy) Wideman of New Philadelphia; four granddaughters, Kristen Smith of Chicago, IL, Laura Smith of Arlington, VA, Andrea (Gary) Eales of Alexandria, VA, and Allison Smith of Bath; three grandsons, Daniel Smith, a student at American University, Washington, D.C., Stephen Smith, a student at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, and Brett Smith of Bath; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Ruth and Robert Null of Tucson, AZ; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, David and Frances Brain of Lexington, KY; four nieces and one nephew; dear friend and aide, Tanya Miller of Clinton; and his faithful companions, Callie and Teddy.



He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ethel, on Apr. 19, 2001.



A funeral service will be held Friday, Dec. 27, 2002, at 4 p.m., in Community Christian Church, 111 Witwer St. N.W., North Canton, with Dr. Donald G. Baird officiating. A private committal service will take place in North Canton Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday, 1 - 4 p.m., in the church. To sign the online register and express condolences, please visit the funeral home's Web site.



In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to O.F.D.A. District 16 Scholarship Fund, c/o Eugene C. Wackerly, III, 1375 Market Ave. N., Canton, OH 44714 (this is a scholarship fund to help worthy students of mortuary science in the Stark, Tuscarawas and Carroll County area).



Toland-Herzig, 330-343-6132

www.tolandherzig.com