Wednesday, July 24, 2019
So sorry to hear that Babe is gone, all the "boys" are gone now. Since my sister, Mary, was married to his brother, Jim, I got to know the Widner family well. I lived in Weiser in the 50s for a time and at age 15 had a big crush on Babe!! I do remember his mandolin playing. A talented man. I spent some time with the Widners and still have pictures of Babe and others on an elk hunting trip. I remember his "tall tales". I have seen him talking to a stranger and since the man seemed to believe him up to some point he made it even taller. It eventually reached the point where I remember thinking, "Surely the man must realize by then that he was only "pulling his leg"! I was able to see him a few years back, just before Melvin died, and I thought he was still very good looking for his age. He took good care of himself and was a good man. I met his daughter there, too, a daughter to be proud of. Thanks, Babe, for the memories. Helen