William "Bill" Huffman

Sergeant William “Bill” L. Huffman, 70, of Evansville, IN passed away Friday, April 28, 2023. He was born on February 18, 1953 in Evansville, IN to the late Lee Anderson Huffman and Clorine (Sanderson) Huffman.

He attended Bosse High School where he excelled in Industrial Arts and Electronics. After graduating high school in 1971, he was locally employed by Swanson-Nunn Electric as a truck driver.

He enlisted in the United States Air Force in October 1972, under the delayed enlisted program and begun his active duty tour in January 1973. Upon completion of basic training, Sergeant Huffman attended Fuels Specialist Technical School at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois. Sergeant Huffman’s duty assignments include: Carswell AFB, Texas; Royal Air Force Base Lakenheath, England; Cannon AFB, New Mexico; Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany; and Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. He was also deployed, for temporary duty, to Cairo Egypt, Thailand, and Denmark. Sergeant Huffman also aided federal and local law enforcement agencies, such as U. S. Customs, Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Grant County Sheriff Department, during collateral operations with the 71st Special Operations Group in August 1990.

On the job he was respected and admired by peers and superiors for his frankness, boundless energy and skill. Many of his innovations and permanent fixes to seemingly “unfixable” dilemmas will remain in effect long after he’s gone. He coordinated the commissioning and installation of five railroad tank-car off loading headers at the Bulk Storage complex which increased the offloading capacity by 20 percent. He spearheaded the program to install vapor recovery fixtures on all aviation refuelers to ensure that the wing was in compliance with both state and federal Environmental Protection Agency air emission regulations. He streamlined the air transport mobility preparation of refuelers by devising fixtures and training teams repetitiously until the entire process was completed in one third the original time.

He organized and supported fund raisers for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Make-A-Wish foundation through the local Harley Owners Group Chapter in Tucson Arizona. He was a National Safety instructor for the base and was selected 836th Air Division Motorcycle Safety Instructor of the quarter January – March 1987. Sergeant Huffman was the recipient of the Air Force Outstanding Unit award, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with silver oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Medal with one device, the Air Force Long Tour ribbon with one oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Longevity Service ribbon with four oak leaf clusters. He’s was also the co-founder and Vice President of the Motorcycle Skill Center of Tucson Arizona.

His superior leadership skills and common sense approach, on and off duty, contributed immeasurably to the local community and the mission of the United States Air Force. His long and faithful service to his country reflect great credit upon himself as a patriotic, freedom-loving American and the United States Air Force.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Sondra Whealton (Frank), Sister-in-law, Carolene Huffman and nieces Cindy Robinson and Dona Boozer. Bill also takes with him Duck and Donny, anyone that knew Bill knows that the three of them together usually meant there was some mischief going on.

He is survived by his brother, Jack Huffman; nieces, Annette Elpers (John), Jennifer Oliver (Dennis), Charissa Wood; nephews Kevin Whealton, Mark Whealton, great-nieces, Alexis Babb, Leila Babb, Brittani Frank (Kyle); great-nephews, Jonathan Elpers (Taylor), Brayden Elpers (Molly), Michael Gruner, and Ryan Wilke (Katijo); and many great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews that he adored, and by his close friends from high school and neighbors who did so much for him during his cancer treatments. He is also survived by his friends that served with him in the military that loved and respected him during his years as their supervisor and his close friends from the Harley Owners Group of Tucson Arizona.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Deaconess Gateway for their care and guidance throughout Bill’s stay in the hospital.

Friends and family will be gathering at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, June 5, 2023 at Alexander West Chapel, 2100 W. Illinois St., Evansville, IN. The procession will be leaving the Chapel at 9:45 a.m. to go to Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery, 2200 Mesker Park Drive. Visitation will be held in the Chapel at Alexander Memorial Park Cemetery from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at which time, the Memorial Service with Military Honors will begin.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to 911 Gives Hope, P. O. Box 3644, Evansville, IN 47735.

Condolences may be offered at www.AlexanderWestChapel.com.