Donald Robert Huffman

Donald Robert Huffman, 84, of Bristol, IN and Georgetown, TX died on May 4, 2017 at his home in Bristol.

He was born on August 7,1932 in Timberville, VA the eldest son of the late Lester C. Huffman and Anna Naomi Showalter Huffman.

Mr. Huffman was a graduate of Timberville High School (VA) and Bridgewater College (VA) (BA, Biology), where he played varsity football. He did postgraduate work at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX and served two years in the U. S. Army at the end of the Korean War.

On December 1, 1961, he married Martha Lou Branham in Beaumont, TX, who survives. Also surviving are two sons and a daughter, Stephen D. Huffman (Michelle) of Marion, IA, Tamara S. Gardner (Paul) of Edwardsburg, Ml, and Rodney G. Huffman (Hope) of Bristol, IN. Also surviving are four sisters and two brothers, Joyce Gilleland of Richmond, VA, Carolyn Wetsel of Harrisonburg, VA, Kenneth Huffman (Lou) of Vidor, TX, Judy Fahrig (Charles) of Lumberton, TX, Mary Kubecka of Houston, TX and Richard Huffman (Patricia) of McGaheysville, VA and three grandchildren, Alexander (Tonya Calkins) Gardner, Anna Gardner and Lucas Huffman.

Don’s career employment was with Miles Laboratories of Elkhart, later acquired by Bayer, Inc. He started as a salesman in Houston, TX and subsequently moved to the head office in Elkhart where he worked in various positions in Government Business, Product/Marketing Management and International Management in Miles’ Medical Diagnostic Division. In 1978 he moved to Tokyo, Japan, with his family, where he held the position of CEO of Miles-Sankyo Co., a joint venture of Miles/Bayer in the manufacture and sale of medical diagnostics for Japan, Taiwan and S. Korea. He returned to the USA in 1993 and retired in 1995, with 33 years of service.

Don participated in many community and volunteer activities including serving as Scout Master and Committee Chairman in several troops of the Boy Scouts of America. He had been active in church activities including committeeman, Treasurer and Sunday School teacher. He served on the Elkhart Community School Board and was a member and past President of the Bristol Town Council, and was a member of the Elcona Country Club. While living in Japan, he was an active member of The American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), the Tokyo Foreign Correspondence Club, the Tokyo American Club and served several years on the Board of the American School in Japan (ASIJ) where his children attended.

In recent years Don (and Martha) have enjoyed retirement at their winter home in Sun City, TX, and at their summer home in Bristol.

Don was a member of the Bristol United Methodist Church where Memorial Services will be held at 11 am Monday, May 8th. Rev. Fred Stayton will officiate followed by burial at Oakridge Cemetery, Bristol. The Family will receive friends at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, Elkhart from 3-6 pm Sunday, May 7th. Visitation will also be an hour prior to services at the Church.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Bristol United Methodist Church, 201 Division St., Bristol, IN 46507 or to Bridgewater College, 402 East College St. Campus Box 33, Bridgewater, VA 22812. Online condolences may be sent to www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com.