Judson Dean Dean Huggins Sr.

When someone is identified as natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Judson Dean Huggins, Sr., who was indeed a born leader. He will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. He was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with him throughout his life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Dean was an individual who clearly communicated to those around him just who he was and what he was all about. Everyone acquainted with Dean knew him as a well-respected man who was a stable force in his community. He was born on May 30, 1917, in Birmingham, AL, to Howard Hugh Huggins, Sr., and Pauline Collins Huggins. The family, which also included older brother Howard and younger brother Jimmy, moved to the Orlando area in the early 1920s and operated a family dairy in Fairvilla. While working on his family dairy farm, Dean would wake at 2am to milk the cows, when he was through with that he would next deliver the milk to the Central Florida area before he was off to school for the day.

Dean graduated from Orlando High School in 1935 and immediately joined the U.S. Navy, serving first on destroyers and later on submarines and in ordnance development. When Dean was a senior in high school (1935), he had to write a paper on “My Life History”. The last paragraph reads, “This coming June I’m hoping to graduate from high school. And after graduation I’m getting into the Navy, the thing I have waited for many years. When I was in Junior High, I made up my mind that that was the life for me and having had a touch of it as a National Guardsman; I think I’ll make the Navy my life’s work.” That he did. His 30-year career included service in World War II and the Korean War, as well as tours of duty in the United States and Europe.

Dean married Rose Marie Lawson of Orlando at the Presbyterian Church in Yuma, Arizona, on September 9th of 1940. They had three children, all of whom greatly enjoyed their parents’ life of travel and service. Dean also shared his love of family and the outdoors as a scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts of America for a number of years. Following his retirement from the Navy in August of 1964, Dean and Rose moved to the Virginia mountains before returning to Florida and settling in Altamonte Springs, where Rose passed away in December of 1995.

On May 4, 1997, Dean married his high school sweetheart, Libby Newell Harrell, in a private ceremony. The two had remained friends through the years with Dean, Rose, Libby and James (Libby’s late husband) occasionally running into each other at monthly Class of ‘35 reunions and monthly Old Timers meetings in later life. He would tell me that when he would go to pick up Libby for a date and her father would tell him to have her home by 10. That was never a problem as he would have her home early because he needed at least a couple hours of sleep before 2am came again to milk more cows.

While they were courting and well into their marriage, the two shared an enjoyment of Disney, especially Epcot. They would visit almost daily to watch the “British Invasion,” a Beatles cover band in the United Kingdom pavilion. They were written about in the Orlando Sentinel for the amazement of 5,000+ shows that they watched together. During their time being “Groupies” they acquired many friends from all over the country and a few international friends. These friends would come back to Epcot looking for their Dean and Libby. During their combined 95th birthdays and 15th wedding anniversary party in May of 2012, some of the members of British Invasion band came and even gave a short, impromptu performance.

Dean and Libby are devoted members at St. Patrick’s Anglican Catholic Church in Port St. John. During his time at the church, Dean has served on the vestry board for several years. Faith was important to Dean as he held high moral standards and deep spiritual beliefs.

Judson Dean Huggins Sr. Commander, USN (ret.) passed on at the age 95, of Orlando, on July 22, 2012, after a short battle as a result of a stroke and congestive heart failure. He died surrounded by members of his loving family in his home at his request under the care of hospice.

Services will be held at on Wednesday, July the 25th at Woodlawn Funeral Home in Gotha Florida. There will be viewing to start at 10am followed by a service at 11am. Afterwards, there will be a celebration of Dean’s life at the Clubhouse within the Sandpointe Community where the Huggins have their home. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that you donate to the Vitas Hospice Charity Fund (877-800-2951, 5420 NW 33rd ave, Suite 100, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33309) that offered their incredible care for him in his last days or to the church of your choice.

Dean is survived by his wife, Libby Huggins of Orlando; sister-in-law, Sarah Huggins, Richmond, VA; children, Selma Marie Bush and husband Ross Bush of Apex, NC; Judith Dean Potocki and husband Johnny A. Potocki of Winter Park; Judson Dean Huggins Jr. and wife Patricia Rich Huggins of Ellijay, GA; Sheila Jean Rader and husband George F. Rader of Kissimmee; Judi Bunnell of Orlando; Angela Kay Lacy and husband John D. Lacy of Tallahassee; as well as 8 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Dean is deeply loved and will be deeply missed.