Ronald A. Widman, 70, died with family beside him at Kobacher House, Columbus, OH October 3, 2019.
The son of Ralph Sr. and Nora M. (Johnson) Widman, Ron graduated from Bucyrus High School 1966-67.
His military service (Army 1968-1971) gave him the education and experience via DASPO, Department of the Army Special Photo Operations, to film and document various portions of our nation as well as part of South East Asia and the Vietnam War. He was part of the crew filming “The Only Ship in the Army”, a documentary about a supply ship the Army had for ground troops in Vietnam. He made a feature length film in South East Asia; the subject: to entice young Vietnamese to register for military duty.
A news cameraman for 19 years with WBNS-10TV in Columbus, OH. , he filmed the daily news, making the regular news deadlines and being a part of the industry as it changed into video from film, and then into the remote broadcast of news. Later he worked in the archives of WBNS, finding films of past historical events and other occasions that needed to be identified and referenced.
During his years at WBNS, Widman received a National Association of TV and Sciences Emmy for his documentary “They Shoot Iron Horses”, a story about the ending of Amtrak’s route from New York to St. Louis.
Widman was a staff member on video stories about specific parts of the city, i.e., Franklinton, German Village, Little Italy and others. He also did filming for a documentary on rock-a-billy music.
He won two Telly Awards from Ashland Chemical for best TV and industrial video product. One discussed Ashland’s new roof coating.
His formal photography career over, Widman returned to his other great love, anything railroad, esp. Pennsylvania Railroad. His active involvement included PRR technical, historical and photographic knowledge, convention attendance, writing, speaking, and an intimate knowledge of anything railroad.
Widman wrote for “Keystone” the Pennsylvania RR club news, a regular article for Crestline “Advocate” and RR Lines West, which was about the Pennsylvania line west from Pittsburgh to Chicago.
He had a model layout in his basement of fascinating proportions, where trains were active, made appropriate sounds and allowed the watcher to be engaged in the experience. Grandson Owen enjoyed time here with his Grandpa.
Ron is survived by his wife, Deborah, son Ryan, grandson Owen, Columbus, brother Ralph (Jan) Lynchburg, OH, brother Tim (Kathy, nephew Carter), Columbus, OH, sister Martha, (John, niece Haley) Virginia Beach, VA, and a huge host of family and friends. He met his parents, grandparents and other relatives in Heaven when he arrived there.
Widman was cremated and will be inurned at Oakwood Cemetery, Bucyrus, Ohio.
Services in Bucyrus will be October 21, 2019 at the Toledo and Ohio Central Depot at 700 E. Rensselaer St. Visitation will be from 12 noon until 1 PM when the service will begin.
A celebration of life will be held October 26 at 10 AM in Upper Arlington, OH at the Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, 3500 Mill Run Rd., Upper Arlington, OH.
In lieu of flowers, memorials please: Crestline Historical Society Box 1033, Crestline, OH 44827: Pennsylvania Railroad Club, (PRRTHS, Steven Staffieri, Pres. 5125 Keokuk St. St. Charles, MO. 63301.)