Charles William Huffman, 87, of Newport News, Virginia, passed into the loving arms of his Lord on June 16 in Salem. Born August 29, 1931, in Blacksburg, he was the son to the late Howard M. Huffman, Sr. and Venus Osbourne Huffman.
Charles was raised and resided in Craig County. He wed the late Barbara Jean (Perdue) Huffman on August 1, 1952. They were married for 64 years until her passing on April 6, 2017. A baptized Christ follower and lifelong member of Level Green Christian Church in Newport News, he served as a deacon and worship leader for many years.
A United States Veteran, Charles joined the Army at 17 on November 16, 1948, before the Korean Conflict. He fought with the “81 Mortars” in Korea from 1950 to 1951, receiving the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantry Badge after he was wounded in action in September of 1951. A member of the 2nd Infantry Division, attached to the 101st Airborne Division, his service led him to Virginia, Kentucky, Colorado, Alaska, Korea and Japan before coming back to his beloved USA for stints in Washington and Pennsylvania. He ended his active service in Virginia on November 15, 1951.
He was employed by Radford Ammunition Plant before working as a carpenter for a private contractor in Craig County. He retired after 31 years as a Carpenter Foreman from Virginia Tech. He enjoyed music, singing, carpentry work, hunting, gardening, yard work, watching NASCAR Races and major league baseball games.
In addition to his wife and parents, Charles was also preceded in death by a sister, Geraldine Harless; two brothers, Robert K. Huffman and Howard M. Huffman, Jr. He is survived by four sons, Dennis (Florence) Huffman of Newport, Dana (Lynne) Huffman of Christiansburg, Daniel Huffman of Newport and Deven (Jessi) Huffman of New Castle; a daughter Terri (Timothy) Lorenz of Cynthiana, KY. Charles also dearly loved his grandchildren: Rachel Lorenz, Ethan Huffman, Micah (Taryn) Lorenz, Taylor Huffman, Matthew Huffman, and two step-grandchildren, Karly and Luke. Also, surviving are sisters, Claudine Estes and Jacqueline Rose, as well as sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Special thanks are extended to the staff at Joseph C. Thomas Center at Richfield for the loving care during his stay and also the office of Dr. Bret Adams at the Carilion Cancer Center.
Funeral Services, officiated by Ministers Bill Frazier and Tim Lorenz at Paitsel Funeral Home, were held at 2 p.m. on June 19. The family received friends from noon until 2 p.m. Full Military honors were observed before Interment at Fairview Cemetery in the Level Green Community, on a hill behind his self-built home for over 60 years. Arrangements were by Paitsel Funeral Home. www.paitselfh.com
