Bruce W. Widger DVM, 92, of Marcellus, NY passed away on
March 6, 2017. Dr. Widger was born on the family farm near Spencerport, NY to
the late Horace E. Widger and Ina Lilleystone Widger. He was predeceased by his
younger brother Kenneth Widger in 2005.
Bruce attended a one-room schoolhouse from grades 1-8 and
graduated from Churchville High School. His youth activities included: Boy
Scouts, 4-H, and FFA- which he was a State officer in 1941. He attended Cornell
University, graduating in 1951 from the Veterinary College. At Cornell he was
Chancellor of Alpha Zeta Fraternity and member of the Baptist Student
Fellowship. While attending Cornell he met Mary Currie and they were married in
October 1952.
After earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
degree, Bruce came to Skaneateles to work with Dr. Robert Nichols. The next
year he moved to Unadilla, NY where he bought the veterinary practice of Dr.
Harry Sutton. In 1953 he returned to Central NY forming a mixed animal practice
partnership with Dr. Nichols, which extended for twenty ?ve years. In 1978 Dr.
Widger joined the Division of Animal Industry, he became the State Veterinarian
in the New York State Department of Agriculture until his 1990 retirement.
Bruce also served in several leadership and participatory
roles. He was a Trustee of Cornell University from 1961-1981 and remained an
Emeritus Trustee. He was a longtime 7th degree member of the Marcellus Grange,
Onondaga Pomona and New York State Grange.
Bruce was a member of Morning Star Masonic Lodge in
Marcellus, serving as Master in 1961 and progressed through district leadership
positions. Bruce was Grand Master of Masons for the State of New York during
the years 1980-82. His Masonic membership also included leadership in both the
York and Scottish Rite Bodies. As a 33rd Degree Mason, he was a member of the
Supreme Council of Scottish Rite, and served nine years as Deputy for the State
of New York.
Bruce was chairman of the Marcellus Town Zoning board for 16
years, a founding member of the Marcellus Rotary Club, a Trustee of the
Skaneateles Saving Bank, Director of the Farmers and Traders Life Insurance
Company and an officer of the Marcellus Historical Society. He was active in
his local church, serving as a member of many committees.
During his retirement he actively participated in the ECHO
Meals on Wheels program, as a Marcellus Free Library volunteer and in the
Syracuse Mens Garden Club helping on Zoo Crew. His hobbies were caning chairs,
making chair pads and latch hooking rugs for neighbors, friends, relatives.
Bruce is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Jane Milem,
sons Byron (Jenifer) and Dwight (Michelle) Widger. Grandchildren Jeffrey (Erin)
Milem, Rosanne Milem, Bonna (Paul) Gordon, Benjamin Widger, Theodore (Olivia)
Widger, Martha Widger, Aimee (Casey) Hofmann, Sarah (Tyler) Creech and Zachary
Widger. Great grandchildren Philip Milem, Isaac Hofmann and Marian Hofmann. He
was predeceased by his son-in-law Philip Milem in 1994.