Leonard Wayne Huffman
October 31, 1940 - May 25, 2018
For more than seven decades, Harrisonburg has been home to a man who watched over his family, his friends and his community. This man, Leonard Wayne Huffman, passed away Friday evening at 77 years of age, surrounded by that family, friends and community leaving more behind than he realized. Leonard was born on October 31, 1940, the seventh of nine children, to Shirley Elizabeth Propst and her husband Paul Calvin Huffman.
He was born in his family home, which stood on the corner in Briery Branch, right across the street from the Briery Branch Church of the Brethren. He knew the hillsides, streams, short cuts, cherry trees and watermelon patches like the back of his hand. He and his sister Evelyn burned the barn down when he was six years old – trying unsuccessfully to smoke a cigarette. He was guilty of cow tipping, outhouse moving, and flirting with the girls in his one room country school house.
He also plowed the garden atop the family plow horse, Bess, picked potatoes, slopped the pigs and wore hand me down overalls. He never met a problem he couldn't solve – one way or the other. Except when his Papa died. Leonard was nine years old at the time and the image of his father bolting upright and collapsing with one large gasp, stayed with him forever.
Leonard quit school at age 16 because he didn't have the right kind of tennis shoes to wear on the basketball court and nobody noticed. He worked at a hatchery, drove an egg truck, and did any kind of work he could find to make his way forward.
He joined the US Navy at age 17 on November 14, 1957, saw and enjoyed the bawdy side of life, and served his country on the US Northampton and there became one fine cook – a skill that served both country and family until his last breath. "Nobody could make gravy like Dad" (qf Dana). He sent an allotment home to his widowed mother to help her maintain the family home, as his older brothers had done before him.
His honorable discharge on November 13, 1963, brought him home with a Good Conduct Medal in his pocket and the desire to begin a new chapter in his life. He first found work as a meat cutter for Red Front Grocery, and a year later joined the workforce at Metro Pants factory. Soon after he met, courted, and married the love of his life, Patty Purcell on September 11, 1964, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, which would gradually become his faith home, and the center of his family life in faith. He was confirmed November 17, 1972, and served his faith community from that day forward.
As a lifelong learner, Leonard attended Barber School at the Woodrow Wilson Training Center, graduating in 1964, the month before their marriage. He worked with his brother Donnie at Salt's Barber Shop on Liberty Street until the opportunity to join the workforce of the US Postal Service in Harrisonburg in the summer of 1966. Over the 54 years Leonard has been a family man he has worked as a barber, JMU bookstore storekeeper, church carpenter, built the parish library, cleaned and waterproofed the bell tower, to name a few of the many ways his hands impacted the lives of those around him. His final volunteer role in the Harrisonburg Community was to serve and become known as "The Egg Man" for Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Food Pantry.
He loved his Cursillo prayer group, men's group with Tom, playing cards with his card club, the New York Yankees anytime he could find them, and way more people, places, and things than we can remember right now.
He took an active role in all of his grandchildren's lives. He taught them his versions of Nursery Rhymes, took them on trips to the park, enjoyed the girls combing his hair, scratching his back, and fell asleep while they painted his chest with lipstick and mascara. He watched his grandson Matthew catch his first fish, and challenged all his grandsons to "pull my finger". Only Alex was wise enough to decline.
Leonard wasn't just an example of what a dedicated and passionate husband looks like, he was an exemplary father, friend and grandfather.
He was loved by many but he will be missed and remembered by more. And like a legend or fairytale, Leonard will live on in the lives of his children, his grandchildren and the great grandchildren still to come.
We his family, invite you to join us as we say farewell to our husband, father, grandfather and friend.
An Irish Farewell will be held at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg on Tuesday evening from 7 to 9 pm.
Leonard's funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at 1:00 pm at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations may be made to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Food Pantry on behalf of "The Egg Man."
-lovingly composed by granddaughter Jenah and NannyG
Married to Patricia Purcell.
October 31, 1940 - May 25, 2018
For more than seven decades, Harrisonburg has been home to a man who watched over his family, his friends and his community. This man, Leonard Wayne Huffman, passed away Friday evening at 77 years of age, surrounded by that family, friends and community leaving more behind than he realized. Leonard was born on October 31, 1940, the seventh of nine children, to Shirley Elizabeth Propst and her husband Paul Calvin Huffman.
He was born in his family home, which stood on the corner in Briery Branch, right across the street from the Briery Branch Church of the Brethren. He knew the hillsides, streams, short cuts, cherry trees and watermelon patches like the back of his hand. He and his sister Evelyn burned the barn down when he was six years old – trying unsuccessfully to smoke a cigarette. He was guilty of cow tipping, outhouse moving, and flirting with the girls in his one room country school house.
He also plowed the garden atop the family plow horse, Bess, picked potatoes, slopped the pigs and wore hand me down overalls. He never met a problem he couldn't solve – one way or the other. Except when his Papa died. Leonard was nine years old at the time and the image of his father bolting upright and collapsing with one large gasp, stayed with him forever.
Leonard quit school at age 16 because he didn't have the right kind of tennis shoes to wear on the basketball court and nobody noticed. He worked at a hatchery, drove an egg truck, and did any kind of work he could find to make his way forward.
He joined the US Navy at age 17 on November 14, 1957, saw and enjoyed the bawdy side of life, and served his country on the US Northampton and there became one fine cook – a skill that served both country and family until his last breath. "Nobody could make gravy like Dad" (qf Dana). He sent an allotment home to his widowed mother to help her maintain the family home, as his older brothers had done before him.
His honorable discharge on November 13, 1963, brought him home with a Good Conduct Medal in his pocket and the desire to begin a new chapter in his life. He first found work as a meat cutter for Red Front Grocery, and a year later joined the workforce at Metro Pants factory. Soon after he met, courted, and married the love of his life, Patty Purcell on September 11, 1964, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, which would gradually become his faith home, and the center of his family life in faith. He was confirmed November 17, 1972, and served his faith community from that day forward.
As a lifelong learner, Leonard attended Barber School at the Woodrow Wilson Training Center, graduating in 1964, the month before their marriage. He worked with his brother Donnie at Salt's Barber Shop on Liberty Street until the opportunity to join the workforce of the US Postal Service in Harrisonburg in the summer of 1966. Over the 54 years Leonard has been a family man he has worked as a barber, JMU bookstore storekeeper, church carpenter, built the parish library, cleaned and waterproofed the bell tower, to name a few of the many ways his hands impacted the lives of those around him. His final volunteer role in the Harrisonburg Community was to serve and become known as "The Egg Man" for Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Food Pantry.
He loved his Cursillo prayer group, men's group with Tom, playing cards with his card club, the New York Yankees anytime he could find them, and way more people, places, and things than we can remember right now.
He took an active role in all of his grandchildren's lives. He taught them his versions of Nursery Rhymes, took them on trips to the park, enjoyed the girls combing his hair, scratching his back, and fell asleep while they painted his chest with lipstick and mascara. He watched his grandson Matthew catch his first fish, and challenged all his grandsons to "pull my finger". Only Alex was wise enough to decline.
Leonard wasn't just an example of what a dedicated and passionate husband looks like, he was an exemplary father, friend and grandfather.
He was loved by many but he will be missed and remembered by more. And like a legend or fairytale, Leonard will live on in the lives of his children, his grandchildren and the great grandchildren still to come.
We his family, invite you to join us as we say farewell to our husband, father, grandfather and friend.
An Irish Farewell will be held at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg on Tuesday evening from 7 to 9 pm.
Leonard's funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at 1:00 pm at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations may be made to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Food Pantry on behalf of "The Egg Man."
-lovingly composed by granddaughter Jenah and NannyG
Married to Patricia Purcell.
Leonard Wayne Huffman
October 31, 1940 - May 25, 2018
For more than seven decades, Harrisonburg has been home to a man who watched over his family, his friends and his community. This man, Leonard Wayne Huffman, passed away Friday evening at 77 years of age, surrounded by that family, friends and community leaving more behind than he realized. Leonard was born on October 31, 1940, the seventh of nine children, to Shirley Elizabeth Propst and her husband Paul Calvin Huffman.
He was born in his family home, which stood on the corner in Briery Branch, right across the street from the Briery Branch Church of the Brethren. He knew the hillsides, streams, short cuts, cherry trees and watermelon patches like the back of his hand. He and his sister Evelyn burned the barn down when he was six years old – trying unsuccessfully to smoke a cigarette. He was guilty of cow tipping, outhouse moving, and flirting with the girls in his one room country school house.
He also plowed the garden atop the family plow horse, Bess, picked potatoes, slopped the pigs and wore hand me down overalls. He never met a problem he couldn't solve – one way or the other. Except when his Papa died. Leonard was nine years old at the time and the image of his father bolting upright and collapsing with one large gasp, stayed with him forever.
Leonard quit school at age 16 because he didn't have the right kind of tennis shoes to wear on the basketball court and nobody noticed. He worked at a hatchery, drove an egg truck, and did any kind of work he could find to make his way forward.
He joined the US Navy at age 17 on November 14, 1957, saw and enjoyed the bawdy side of life, and served his country on the US Northampton and there became one fine cook – a skill that served both country and family until his last breath. "Nobody could make gravy like Dad" (qf Dana). He sent an allotment home to his widowed mother to help her maintain the family home, as his older brothers had done before him.
His honorable discharge on November 13, 1963, brought him home with a Good Conduct Medal in his pocket and the desire to begin a new chapter in his life. He first found work as a meat cutter for Red Front Grocery, and a year later joined the workforce at Metro Pants factory. Soon after he met, courted, and married the love of his life, Patty Purcell on September 11, 1964, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, which would gradually become his faith home, and the center of his family life in faith. He was confirmed November 17, 1972, and served his faith community from that day forward.
As a lifelong learner, Leonard attended Barber School at the Woodrow Wilson Training Center, graduating in 1964, the month before their marriage. He worked with his brother Donnie at Salt's Barber Shop on Liberty Street until the opportunity to join the workforce of the US Postal Service in Harrisonburg in the summer of 1966. Over the 54 years Leonard has been a family man he has worked as a barber, JMU bookstore storekeeper, church carpenter, built the parish library, cleaned and waterproofed the bell tower, to name a few of the many ways his hands impacted the lives of those around him. His final volunteer role in the Harrisonburg Community was to serve and become known as "The Egg Man" for Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Food Pantry.
He loved his Cursillo prayer group, men's group with Tom, playing cards with his card club, the New York Yankees anytime he could find them, and way more people, places, and things than we can remember right now.
He took an active role in all of his grandchildren's lives. He taught them his versions of Nursery Rhymes, took them on trips to the park, enjoyed the girls combing his hair, scratching his back, and fell asleep while they painted his chest with lipstick and mascara. He watched his grandson Matthew catch his first fish, and challenged all his grandsons to "pull my finger". Only Alex was wise enough to decline.
Leonard wasn't just an example of what a dedicated and passionate husband looks like, he was an exemplary father, friend and grandfather.
He was loved by many but he will be missed and remembered by more. And like a legend or fairytale, Leonard will live on in the lives of his children, his grandchildren and the great grandchildren still to come.
We his family, invite you to join us as we say farewell to our husband, father, grandfather and friend.
An Irish Farewell will be held at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg on Tuesday evening from 7 to 9 pm.
Leonard's funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at 1:00 pm at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations may be made to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Food Pantry on behalf of "The Egg Man."
-lovingly composed by granddaughter Jenah and NannyG
Married to Patricia Purcell.
October 31, 1940 - May 25, 2018
For more than seven decades, Harrisonburg has been home to a man who watched over his family, his friends and his community. This man, Leonard Wayne Huffman, passed away Friday evening at 77 years of age, surrounded by that family, friends and community leaving more behind than he realized. Leonard was born on October 31, 1940, the seventh of nine children, to Shirley Elizabeth Propst and her husband Paul Calvin Huffman.
He was born in his family home, which stood on the corner in Briery Branch, right across the street from the Briery Branch Church of the Brethren. He knew the hillsides, streams, short cuts, cherry trees and watermelon patches like the back of his hand. He and his sister Evelyn burned the barn down when he was six years old – trying unsuccessfully to smoke a cigarette. He was guilty of cow tipping, outhouse moving, and flirting with the girls in his one room country school house.
He also plowed the garden atop the family plow horse, Bess, picked potatoes, slopped the pigs and wore hand me down overalls. He never met a problem he couldn't solve – one way or the other. Except when his Papa died. Leonard was nine years old at the time and the image of his father bolting upright and collapsing with one large gasp, stayed with him forever.
Leonard quit school at age 16 because he didn't have the right kind of tennis shoes to wear on the basketball court and nobody noticed. He worked at a hatchery, drove an egg truck, and did any kind of work he could find to make his way forward.
He joined the US Navy at age 17 on November 14, 1957, saw and enjoyed the bawdy side of life, and served his country on the US Northampton and there became one fine cook – a skill that served both country and family until his last breath. "Nobody could make gravy like Dad" (qf Dana). He sent an allotment home to his widowed mother to help her maintain the family home, as his older brothers had done before him.
His honorable discharge on November 13, 1963, brought him home with a Good Conduct Medal in his pocket and the desire to begin a new chapter in his life. He first found work as a meat cutter for Red Front Grocery, and a year later joined the workforce at Metro Pants factory. Soon after he met, courted, and married the love of his life, Patty Purcell on September 11, 1964, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, which would gradually become his faith home, and the center of his family life in faith. He was confirmed November 17, 1972, and served his faith community from that day forward.
As a lifelong learner, Leonard attended Barber School at the Woodrow Wilson Training Center, graduating in 1964, the month before their marriage. He worked with his brother Donnie at Salt's Barber Shop on Liberty Street until the opportunity to join the workforce of the US Postal Service in Harrisonburg in the summer of 1966. Over the 54 years Leonard has been a family man he has worked as a barber, JMU bookstore storekeeper, church carpenter, built the parish library, cleaned and waterproofed the bell tower, to name a few of the many ways his hands impacted the lives of those around him. His final volunteer role in the Harrisonburg Community was to serve and become known as "The Egg Man" for Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Food Pantry.
He loved his Cursillo prayer group, men's group with Tom, playing cards with his card club, the New York Yankees anytime he could find them, and way more people, places, and things than we can remember right now.
He took an active role in all of his grandchildren's lives. He taught them his versions of Nursery Rhymes, took them on trips to the park, enjoyed the girls combing his hair, scratching his back, and fell asleep while they painted his chest with lipstick and mascara. He watched his grandson Matthew catch his first fish, and challenged all his grandsons to "pull my finger". Only Alex was wise enough to decline.
Leonard wasn't just an example of what a dedicated and passionate husband looks like, he was an exemplary father, friend and grandfather.
He was loved by many but he will be missed and remembered by more. And like a legend or fairytale, Leonard will live on in the lives of his children, his grandchildren and the great grandchildren still to come.
We his family, invite you to join us as we say farewell to our husband, father, grandfather and friend.
An Irish Farewell will be held at Kyger Funeral Home in Harrisonburg on Tuesday evening from 7 to 9 pm.
Leonard's funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, at 1:00 pm at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations may be made to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church Food Pantry on behalf of "The Egg Man."
-lovingly composed by granddaughter Jenah and NannyG
Married to Patricia Purcell.
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