George Junior Huffman

George (Georgie) Huffman of Hartford, MI passed away July 14th, 2015 at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph, MI at the age of 78 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. While surrounded by family at 9:50am the battle came to a peaceful end.

George was born January 15th, 1937 in Kennett, MO to George W. Huffman and Imogene (Chappel) Huffman. They relocated to Michigan when he was an infant and Hartford became his lifelong home. George married Nancy Joy Dyer of Hartford, MI on August 4th, 1958 and the couple had three children.

George at a very young age worked for the J.C. VanLierop Bulb Farms in Hartford, MI. At age 18 George began working for the Watervliet Paper Mill in Watervliet, MI and continued there for over 15 years. While working at the paper mill George studied electronics via mail order courses (no such thing as Internet back then) and achieved his degree in electronics in 1965 (50 years ago this year) he then started doing radio and television repairs in the basement of his home. In 1975 George left the Watervliet Paper Mill as a Quality Control Supervisor, built a new store at 25 Beechwood St in Hartford, MI. George and his Wife Nancy then held an open house for what would become Huffman's TV and Appliances, Inc. and later added Huffman's Furniture in downtown Hartford. The TV and appliance business is still in operation today. George was actively involved in its operation until the time of his passing.

George had a lifelong passion for hunting, bowling and golf. George, his faithful golf partner and dear friend Wayne Gay of Hartford, MI bowled and played golf together for over 60 years in leagues and for fun, a true testament of friendship not often seen. At Coloma Lanes George was inducted into the Blossomland Bowling Association Hall of Fame on May 3rd, 2009 which he has been a member of for 56 years. In January 2014 the 58th Annual Blossomland USBC Bowling Association City Tournament Team Event was dedicated to George Huffman for his lifelong dedication to the sport of bowling. Since 1969 George has sponsored at least two and as many as five league bowling teams per year through Huffman's TV and Appliance, Inc, supplying the teams with bowling shirts to maintain the professionalism of the sport he loved. His personal accomplishments include three bowling league sanctioned perfect 300 games (1994, 1996 and 2004), one 299 game and a personal best three game series of 792. In league play at Lake Cora Golf Course George had a Hole-In-One on the 14th hole in 1998 and another on the 1st hole in 2001. George was also a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and proudly displayed their logo in support of all law abiding citizens.

George was very stubborn, always had an opinion (right or wrong) but had a big heart. George would go without so others could have. He loved his family and friends and always put himself second. Even after several heart attacks and then cancer, George never gave up, his sheer will to survive and belief he could overcome was unsurpassed by any and all obstacles. Even after many years of chemotherapy he pushed on. It was a reality to see George come home from chemotherapy and a few hours later be on a roof nailing down shingles, then drive off to a junk yard to remove parts from a vehicle, go back home and tear down an engine to install it, then he would suffer the pain of what he did that day, get up the next morning and do it all over again. If George would have given up earlier, submitted to the consequences and the pain he may have lived longer, but for him that was not an option.

Traditional obituaries are supposed to be ‘third party' and ‘non associated' but in this case its personal. This was my father, the man that taught me from a young age that if you want something earn it, work hard and never stop challenging yourself; if it needs to be done you can do it!

George Huffman is survived by his wife Nancy Joy Huffman, Hartford, MI, sons; Denis Lee (Pattijo) Huffman, Marshall, MI, David Alan Huffman, Eau Claire, MI, daughter; Annette Joy Huffman, Kalamazoo, MI, Grandkids; Kyle Alan Huffman, Grand Rapids, MI, Joshua Denis Huffman, Dexter, MI, Brianna Mercedes Huffman, Kalamazoo, MI, Ty Alexander Huffman, Kalamazoo, MI, Jami Lynn Huffman, Sodus, MI, brother in law; Robert Dyer, St. Joseph, MI and sister in law, Virginia Dyer, Portage, MI.

George Huffman was proceeded in death by: father; George W. Huffman, mother; Imogene Huffman, sister; Shirley (Kennedy) Harris, mother in law; Myrtle Dyer, father in law; Raymond Dyer, step father; Donald Straw, brother in law; William Dyer and sister in law; Eleanor Dyer.

George Huffman's wishes were to be cremated. Due to some immediate family members being out of town visitation will be at Calvin Funeral Home in Hartford, MI on August 8th, 2015 from 3:00pm to 8:00pm.

In lieu of flowers the family wishes any donations be made to George Huffman Memorial Fund For Coloma Lanes Youth Bowling (http://www.gofundme.com/george_huffman or checks can be mailed to: Coloma Lanes Youth Bowling, c/o George Huffman Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 83, Coloma, MI 49038.