Constance Silk Huff

Constance Silk Huff, 88, died September 29, 2011, at her residence in Austin, Texas. Funeral services, officiated by Dr. Paul Goodrich and overseen by Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home, will be held Tuesday, October 4, 2011, at 1 p.m. in the Perkins Chapel of the First United Methodist Church in Wichita Falls, Texas. Internment at Crestview Memorial Park will follow immediately thereafter.

Born August 18, 1923, to Arthur Franklin and Constance Delambre Appleby of Wichita Falls, Connie graduated from Wichita Falls High School and the University of Texas, where she was a member of Delta Gamma. She married her college sweetheart, Douglas R. Venable, Jr., of Macon, Georgia, in 1942. Doug was killed in action in WWII eight months later. Shortly after the war ended, Connie went on a blind date with Edward E. Silk, who had recently returned home to Wichita Falls following service in the Army. They were married in 1946---a marriage that lasted 29 years until Ed's death, which followed a lengthy illness. Several years later, Connie fell in love with and married John "Jack" Newton Huff of Wichita Falls and Duncan, Oklahoma. That marriage lasted 16 years, until Jack's death.

Connie was active in the First United Methodist Church and volunteered with the Junior League, YWCA, PTA, and a number of other civic organizations. She enjoyed playing bridge, dancing, reading, gardening, telling remarkably corny jokes, and spending time with her family and her many friends. Connie demonstrated remarkable resilience after personal losses and provided inspiration and guidance to others.

Aside from the aforementioned, Connie was preceded in death by her son, Ed Silk, Jr., an infant daughter, and her sister and brother-in-law, Mary Love and Hubert "Kipp" Windel.

She is survived by a daughter, Linda Silk of Austin; a niece, Candace Windel of San Antonio; a great niece and her husband, Laurinda and Jerimey Dear of San Antonio, along with their twin baby boys, Jackson and Greyson; "near sons" Paul Spindor and Nathan Scarber of Haslet, Texas; and more wonderful friends than the law allows. Heartfelt thank-yous go to Peggy Townsend, who first met Connie in the second grade and who was there at the end; Irma Salazar; Connie's many friends at The Continental; and the compassionate professionals at both Heavenly Caregiver Services and Grace Hospice.

If you wish, memorials may be made to Bookspring/Reading is Fundamental

Austin, 2006 Greenbrook Parkway, Austin, Texas, 78723, or the charity of your choice. Or plant some pansies. Those were Connie's favorites.