Sunshine Widener

1935 - 2012

Thurston Boyd "Sunshine" Widener Jr., 77, passed away Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012. Funeral: 10 a.m. Thursday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole Funeral Home. Interment: Everman Cemetery. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Thompson's Harveson & Cole. Memorials: Should friends desire, memorials may be given to the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation, 1555 Merrimac Circle #102, Fort Worth, Texas 76107. ucptc.org Sunshine was born with cerebral palsy and the nickname "Sunshine" was given to him as a child by his mother because he always woke up every morning with a smile. He was born Feb. 7, 1935, in Fort Worth, to Thurston B. "Tut" and Margaret Ruth Woodard Widener. He had one younger brother, Robert "Bobby" Widener. Throughout his life, Sunshine was true to his nickname, always smiling as he sat in the pew at First Baptist Church Forest Hill for over five decades (where he also had his own parking space); laughing as he listened to his favorite hymn, "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder"; teasing his brother whenever they were together; and above all, lighting up his mother's eyes as she lovingly cared for him in his childhood home of 64 years until her passing in February 2009. Sunshine loved Dr Pepper, chocolate pie, gospel music and "Murder She Wrote." He was preceded in death by his parents. You are my Sunshine My only Sunshine You make me happy when skies are grey You'll never know, dear, how much I love you Please don't take my Sunshine away. The light of Sunshine's life will continue to shine brightly in our hearts. Survivors: Sunshine is survived by his brother, Robert "Bobby" Widener and his wife, Kay; nieces, Holly Widener Ray and husband, Steve, and their two boys, Austin and Tyler, Cindy Widener Renfro and her husband, Chad, and their two children, Savannah and Steele; aunt, Barbara Woodard; and cousins, Russell Woodard, Melanie Woodard, Stephanie Woodard; and Jerry Joe Widener and wife, Melissa.