Charles “Charlie” Virgile Wideman, 74, of Garland went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, August 3, 2016.

Family and friends will gather to celebrate his life at 10:00 AM Friday, August 5, 2016 at the First Baptist Church Chapel at 801 West Avenue D, Garland, Texas 75040. Interment will follow in the Lakeview Cemetery in Sachse, TX under the personal care of Charles W. Smith and Sons Funeral Home, 2925 5th Street, Sachse, TX 75048. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Charlie was born in Ashur, Arkansas to Ordith Wideman and Lucy Matilda Davenport Wideman on June 3, 1942. He was raised in Blackwell, Oklahoma and graduated from Blackwell High School in 1962. He worked for the Blackwell Journal, where he worked in production, but started as a paperboy on the east side of Blackwell, where he walked or rode his bicycle. Upon graduation, he moved to Garland in 1962 and started working for the Garland News. He married Patricia Ann Ellis on April 18, 1964 in Dallas. He worked for the Dallas Morning News and retired after 35 years; where he started as a line-type operator and worked his way up to department manager. After he retired, he decided that he wasn’t ready to stay at home and so he finished his career as a driver for O-Riley’s. A job that gave him great joy for all the people that he got to meet and visit with every day.

Charlie had great passion for life. He loved to read, spend time on the computer, go camping and spend time with friends and family. He never met a stranger and was never a stranger to those he met. He was always willing to lend a hand or a tool to help you get the job done. The impact he made to those he came in contact with will be felt for years to come.

Charlie is survived by his wife of 52 years, Patricia Wideman of Garland; daughter, Kimberly Kaes and husband, Michael, of El Reno, Oklahoma; son, Michael Wideman and wife, Jill, of Garland; 5 grandchildren, Aaron Kaes of Colorado, Jamie Orona and husband, Modesto, of Dallas, Sophea Wideman, Gabriel Wideman, and Victoria Wideman, all of Garland; and 2 great grandchildren, Sky Orona of Dallas and Baby Orona, who is due in December. Charlie is also survived by his 6 sisters, Ethel Kelly of Blackwell, OK, Virginia Frost and husband, Bill, of Elkins, AR, Chris Wideman of Oklahoma City, OK, Carol Mason and husband, Archie, of Haysville, KS, Judy Merritt and husband, Jim, of Lubbock, TX, and Betty McNett and husband, Eddie, of Andrews, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ordith and Lucy, and sister, Vicky Lynn Wideman.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Friendship House or the American Cancer Society.

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