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william andrew 'andy' huffman
HOT SPRINGS - William Andrew "Andy" Huffman, 93, of Hot Springs, died Thursday, April 24, 2008, at his residence following a prolonged illness.
He was the husband of the late Lovie Loretta Rucker Huffman, who preceded him in death on Aug. 5, 2004.
Mr. Huffman was born on Sept. 13, 1914, in Craig County, the son of the late William Albert and Launia Sue McMullen Huffman.
He received his early education in the Craig County Public Schools.
His family settled in the Falling Spring area of Alleghany County during the Great Depression. It was there he met his wife of 67 years, Lovie Loretta Rucker. The couple was married on April 22, 1937.
Mr. Huffman served as an armorer in the United States Army during World War II, serving in fivecampaigns: Normandy, Northern France, Addrennes, Rhineland and Central Europe.
Following the war, he returned to Alleghany County, where he became a special delivery mailman and later a night watchman on a firetower for the United States Forest Service.
In July of 1955, he became a game warden and a game manager and later as a game refuge supervisor for the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries. Perhaps his favorite assignment was game refuge supervisor of the Gathright Wildlife Management Area.
Mr. Huffman officially retired on Jan. 1, 1980, but he left his mark on the game commission by making significantcontributions by protecting and conserving the natural resources of the Commonwealth of Virginia for his successful restoration of the wild turkey population in Virginia.
In addition, he was instrumental in helping repopulate the turkey population in Virginia by assisting with the transfer of turkeys from the Gathright Wildlife Management Area to other parts of the state. He received numerous awards and citations for his efforts, including awards from the National Turkey Federation.
He was also a member of Emory United Methodist Church.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family.
He is survived by a daughter, Nancy Huffman McLaughlin and her husband, H.C. "Buddy"; a granddaughter, Lori A. McLaughlin Crist and her husband, Steven, of Front Royal; six grandsons, James C. McLaughlin and his wife, Connie, of Covington; Brian Clarke of Covington; Gerald Clarke Jr. of Roanoke; Michael A. Clarke Steven A. Clarke and David W. Clarke, all of Covington; 12 great-grandchildren; a number of nieces and nephews; and a sisterin law, Mary Loan Huffman of Staunton.
In addition to his wife and his parents, Mr. Huffman was preceded in death by a daughter, Janet Ann Huffman Clarke, on Aug. 20, 2003; a son-in-law, Gerald L. Clark on April 10, 1996; and siblings, Inus Theodore Huffman, Beatrice Howell Huffman Caldwell and Eugene Ryland Huffman.
A funeral service was conducted Monday, April 28 at 3 p.m. from the Chapel of Loving Funeral Home with Pastor Lynn Wright officiating.
Interment followed in Emory United Methodist Church Cemetery. Graveside rites were given by Curtis A. Smith, Post 1033 Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Pallbearers were Jerry Ginger, Louie Woods, Melvin Whiteside, Tony Ryder, Paul Marian, Dennis Martin, Jack Raybourn, and Gary Spiers.
Honorary pallbearers were Tex Chapman and John Pound.
The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to Emory United Methodist Church, 7119 Jackson River Road, Hot Springs Va. 24445 or Hot Springs Rescue Squad, P.O. Box N, Hot Springs, Va. 24445.
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