Funeral services for Lt. Cmdr. Harrell Lee Widener, 79, of Bainbridge, will be held Saturday, April 3, at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Paul Medley officiating.

Interment will follow in Oak City Cemetery with Leonard Widener Jr., Joe Widener, Forrest Elkins, Larry Elkins, Jim Pitisci and Russell Gilliam serving as active pallbearers.

Born June 2, 1930, in Decatur County, Mr. Widener died on Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at his residence in Bainbridge.

Mr. Widener was raised in Decatur County and joined the U.S. Navy in 1947. He served as an aviator with the Hurricane Hunters and retired in 1974 with the rank of lieutenant commander. Mr. Widener lived in Norfolk, Va., Maine and Louisiana and moved back home to Bainbridge in 1974. He loved fishing, bird hunting and tinkering. Mr. Widener was a member of First Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Leonard “Bubba” Widener Sr.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth “Liz” Ann Miller Widener of Bainbridge; three daughters, Michelle Mae Nolke of Columbus, Ga., Lisa Widener Hamilton of Bainbridge and Amanda Widener Parrish of Athens, Ga.; a son, John Montgomery of Jacksonville, Fla.; a brother, William V. Widener of Climax; two sisters, Mary Ruth Widener Gilliam and Betty Widener Elkins, both of Bainbridge, and four grandchildren.

Cox-Ware Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.