The band's surviving two members, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey, took a break from their North American tour and flew to England to bid farewell to John Entwistle at a private funeral service in the bassist's hometown of Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire.
Townshend and Daltrey joined onetime bandmate Kenney Jones, who substituted for Keith Moon after the drummer's death in 1978, and dozens of Entwistle's family and friends to mourn the loss of the musician known simply as "The Ox."
Hundreds of fans gathered outside St. Edward's Church as Entwistle's coffin was carried inside followed by a procession that included Entwistle's adult son, Christopher, and his girlfriend, Lisa Pritchard-Johnson.
The church's entrance was surrounded by several floral arrangements, including one reading "RIP Ox," and arrangements shaped like a bass guitar and a champagne bottle were spotted inside the hearse, according to the BBC.
The Reverend Colin Wilson, who presided over the service, noted that the stoic musician is now "reunited with Keith up there making great music."
"I think he would want us all to be strong, determined, unafraid of the future, ready to meet every challenge, to believe in ourselves and in each other," said Wilson.
Loudspeakers broadcasted the solemn service--which included two hymns and a poetry reading--to the throng outside.
Daltrey and Townshend were seen embracing as they exited the church.
Entwistle was found dead of an apparent heart attack in a Las Vegas hotel room on June 27, just one day before the group had planned to kick off their latest tour. He was 57 years old.
According to Entwistle's Website, a public memorial service in London is planned for later this year, but no details have been announced.
Townshend and Daltrey, who decided to press on with the tour as a tribute to their fallen friend, resume their performances July 26 in Mansfield, Massachusetts.