Bonnie Marlene Weddle Widener, 79, of Fancy Gap, Virginia passed away peacefully Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at Twin County Regional Hospital in Galax, Virginia. She was born September 21, 1931 at Martin Memorial Hospital in Mt. Airy, North Carolina--the only daughter of the late Rawden Weddle and Emma Hill. She grew up in the Brookmore community of Fancy Gap where she developed a special lifelong circle of friends. At the age of 14, she and her parents moved into the renowned Sidna Allen Home where she lived for most of her life and later became a devoted tour guide and storyteller of the homes rich history. She graduated from Hillsville High School in 1948 and went on to attend college at Radford University and National Business College where she was the editor of the schools newspaper. She then spent many years working for the Virginia Department of Transportation until the birth of her children. She was an active member of the Hillsville Chapter No. 71 Order of the Eastern Star and served as Worthy Matron and held many other offices during her more than 50 years of membership and service. She was a columnist for The Carroll County News where she wrote the acclaimed Fancy Gap Happenings for more than 25 years. She was very active in the community serving in the Junior Womans Club, Girl Scouts, 4-H and various cancer support organizations. She was also an active member of Fancy Gap Methodist Church for nearly 60 years. She loved to laugh and had a wonderful sense of humor and always had a big smile that could light up a room. She never met a stranger and her lively spirit was an inspiration to all who knew her.

She was married to her devoted husband, Hubert S. Bert Widener, for more than 51 years. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Stanley and Lisa Widener, of Fancy Gap, Virginia and daughter and son-in-law, Bonnie and Skip Wood of Alexandria, Virginia. She was the proud grandma of Molly, Campbell and Branson who gave her so much love and joy.

The family would like to extend its deepest appreciation to the nurses and staff at Waddell Nursing Home in Galax, Virginia where they took special care to make sure she always felt like family.

Visitation will be held Friday, January 14th from 6 to 8 pm at Vaughan-Guynn-McGrady Chapel in Hillsville, Virginia. Services will be held Saturday, January 15th at 2pm at Sky View Baptist Church. The body will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the service. The burial will follow at the Webb Sky View Cemetery in Fancy Gap, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Fancy Gap Methodist Church Building Fund, 578 Old Appalachian Trail, Fancy Gap, Virginia 24328 or the American Cancer Society c/o Iva Easter, 1235 Beaver Dam Road, Hillsville, Virginia, 24343.