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Willie “Slim” Varnum, 90, of Bainbridge, passed away Monday, April 3, 2023.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2023, at Open Arms Ministries with Mr. Kevin Dowdy and Pastor Marcus Zipperer officiating.  Interment will follow at Open Arms Ministries Cemetery with Ty Varnum, Kaleb Varnum, Logan Helms, Stephen Ponder, Tim Fowler, Denny Foran, Frank Godwin, and Chad Shinall serving as active pallbearers.

The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10:00 until 10:45 a.m. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.bryantfuneralga.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Open Arms Ministries, PO Box 1528, Bainbridge, GA 39818.

Willie Burton Varnum was born March 11, 1933, in Columbia, Ala., the son of Archie & Dellhia McGriff Varnum. Willie married Eunice Murkerson in 1956, and they made their home in Decatur County where they operated Varnum Roofing providing exceptional service to generations of families in the area. Willie was an active member of Open Arms Ministries.

Idle time was not in the cards for Willie. He was considered a workaholic giving credence to “working from can to can’t”. He stayed busy tinkering in the yard, working on his cars and trucks, and ‘coon hunting when he wasn’t roofing. Having grown up in a large family, Willie knew the importance of maintaining those strong ties. He loved his family unconditionally and doted on his grandchildren, almost to the point of spoiling them according to some. He held the line and never succumbed to the pressure of owning a cell phone relying on the fact that those that needed him knew where & how to find him. Willie was “always good looking” and if you knew him, well, you just know.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Eunice Varnum; his children, Karen & Alan Giles, Trina Helms, and Steve & Kelly Varnum all of Bainbridge; his grandchildren, Brandy & Tim, Bryan, Logan, Ashley & Stephen, Ty, Kaleb, Lily, and Laynie; his great-grandchildren, Gavin, Corbyn, Colton, and Grady; his sister, Bobbie Ruth Love of Blakely; and a host of extended family. In addition to his parents, Willie was preceded in death by his siblings, Eula Rabon, A.D. Varnum, Clarence Varnum, John Varnum, Sylvester Varnum, Wallace Varnum, Sara Spurlock, Elver Varnum, and Doc Varnum.

Bryant Funeral Home, located at 105 N. Florida Street, is assisting the family with arrangements. (229-246-3321)