Sterling Dayle Huggens

Sterling D. Huggens, 94, formerly of Lexington, NC, Haddonfield and Pitman, NJ went home to be with the Lord on Friday, October 21, 2016 at the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) in Harrisonburg, VA.

Born at home near Hanover, PA, he was the son of the late Samuel and Gussie Huggens. He graduated from High School in Hanover, PA in 1942. That fall he began college at Drexel Institute, Philadelphia, PA to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. His studies were interrupted in 1943 when drafted to serve in the U.S. Army.

Mr. Huggens was a veteran of WW II. After infantry basic training he was selected for training in engineering with the Army Specialized Training Program. He joined the 26th Infantry Division in spring of 1944 as an Infantry Instrument Corporal assigned to a heavy weapons platoon. The Division was shipped directly through Cherbourg, France to the front and in summer 1944 became part of Patton's U.S. Third Army. In October 1944 Mr. Huggens was wounded in action as a gunner's scout in the Division's attack on the enemy in Moncourt woods. He was awarded the Purple Heart. After recuperating from wounds he served in the army in the U.S. until he was honorably discharged in 1946.

After military service Mr. Huggens briefly returned to Drexel Institute. He met his future wife, Della (Schofield), at the Drexel Hill Presbyterian Church. They were married in June 1948. In 1946 Mr. Huggens transferred to California State College in California, PA and received a B.S. in Education in 1950.

Mr. Huggens spent his entire professional life devoted to education, training and management consulting. He taught industrial arts in Pitman High School, Pitman, NJ. From 1951 to 1966 he created personnel training programs with major corporations including DuPont and RCA. For roughly the next two decades he created and managed management consulting services with the American Management Association and several other management consulting firms. From 1984 to 2000 Mr. Huggens offered management consulting services to major corporations and hospitals in the U.S. and Canada with his own management consulting firm Executive Control Systems. During his lifetime he trained over 25,000 management people.

Shortly after moving to the valley Mr. Huggens and his wife joined the West Side Baptist Church. He became involved in the outreach ministry to the Linville Prison and led Bible studies there. He was also an ICM chaplain for the Cargill plant in Timberville.

Mr. Huggens volunteered his knowledge and expertise from business consulting with the Service Corporation of Retired Executives (SCORE). He served as a resident member on the board of directors of VMRC and the board of Elder Alliance. During this time he also conducted sessions for the Alumni Association of Eastern Mennonite High School, the president and staff of EMU, the Harrisonburg Chamber of Commerce, Augusta County, Friendship Industries, Massanetta Springs Camp and Conference Center and the Rockingham County Trade School.

Mr. Huggens was the beloved husband of Della who passed away in 2012. He was a loving father to a son Gary of Harrisburg, PA and a daughter Karin B. Slawinski of Great Falls, VA. He was the dear brother of the late Joyce Huggens.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, November 12, 2016 in Strite Auditorium from 1 to 3 PM at the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC), 1491 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg, VA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be donated in memory of Sterling D. Huggens to Operation Mobilization, a mission sharing the gospel around the world, one that the Huggens' were passionate about:

https://my.omusa.org/donation?val=APN0002197123