Thomas Eugene Huffman, 71, passed away Friday, April 3, 2020, in Hutchinson. The son of Robert and Elizabeth (Kohl) Huffman, he was born July 1, 1948, in Scott City, almost exactly a year after his brother, James.
Thomas spent his young childhood in Grigston, Kansas, before the family moved to Nickerson, in 1958.
He graduated from Nickerson High School in 1966 and Hutchinson Community College in 1968. Thomas then went to work as a draftsman at Carey Salt Company, in Hutchinson. In 1973, he began working at Cessna, and was employed in 1988 at Boeing, in Wichita. Thomas worked on Air Force One and was excited to be a passenger onboard a test flight that flew roundtrip from Wichita to Seattle. He retired in 2001.
Thomas volunteered with the Boy Scouts and Big Brothers, taking the youngsters on canoeing trips and camping excursions, teaching them how to set up tents, gather wood, and cook on a campfire and portable cook top. The family benefited from his practice, and enjoyed many meals with cherry cobbler.
In 1974, Thomas bought a Jeep, and in October of 1978, became a member of the Salt City 4-Wheelers. He also enjoyed riding motorcycles and photography. For several years, Thomas took trips to Waynoka, Oklahoma, to go 4-wheeling, 3-wheeling, and motorcycle riding in Little Sahara State Park, with younger brother, Joe, in tow. An avid mechanic, he always had a car or pickup that was in a state of some level of rebuild or repair.
Thomas was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Frank, who passed away last year.
He never married. Thomas is survived by: brothers, James (Kathy) Huffman, Joe (Leslie) Huffman, all of Hutchinson; sisters, Mary Blachford of Alden, Jean (Mike) Ober of Cottonwood, AZ, Delores Huffman of Skiatook, OK, Vera (John) Frye of Lyons, and Barb (Lou) Winterfield of Fountain Hills, AZ; and many nieces and nephews.
Friends may sign the book from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday at Elliott Mortuary. Given the current coronavirus situation, a graveside service will be announced at a later date. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.