Roger W. Huffman, age 90, of Bluffton, passed away Wednesday morning, January 14, 2015, at his residence. Born in Warren, IN, on Nov. 17, 1924, to Raymond and Iva (Moore) Huffman, he grew up near Warren and Liberty Center, IN. He frequently reminisced about his boyhood on the farm when his father plowed and farmed acres of land walking behind the horses and plow. Talking to his friends and family, he would talk about the house where he was born, and how he remembered walking across fields to visit his friends and cousins. He would always share many of memories of what it was like growing up in the 1920s and 1930s. Roger always had an interest in science. Even as a young boy he experimented with engines and radios and such. While working for Ford Meter Box, he helped design a machine that increased production of their product. He could repair nearly anything and everything himself. Even more recently, his main interests were laptop computers, science programs, Colts football, and IU basketball. In 1943, Roger married Ruby James, whom he had known since they were both 15 years old. To this day, Roger still had the first Valentine he had given to her. They were married for 63 years, in which they had two children, a son and daughter. Through the years Roger worked various jobs in Bluffton and Fort Wayne, including Farnsworth Co., Sterling Casting Co., foundries in both Muncie and Peru, IN, and later retiring from Ford Meter Box in Wabash, IN. He and his wife Ruby owned the Linger Inn Motel in Bluffton for 20 years during which time they served the patrons who were mostly Caylor-Nickel Clinic patients and families. They met and cared for people from all over the United States. They retired to Roger's current home in Bluffton, which he and his grandson, Mike, had completely renovated, making a brand new home for him and Ruby. During the renovation he suffered two heart attacks, but continued to work. In 1999 he had a five artery coronary bypass, in which he recovered and continued to care for his ill wife for 15 years. Roger was a 32nd degree Mason in the Bluffton Masonic Lodge 145, was a member of the Valley of Fort Wayne Scottish Rite and Eastern Star Lodge. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Bluffton, where he was blessed to have a wonderful church family. Most of all, he was a child of God who found peace and hope in knowing that his future would be in Heaven. He was the patriarch of his family, survived by one son, Jim A. (Regina M.) Huffman of Petroleum; one daughter, Judy E. (Harvey R.) Ziegler of Bluffton; 10 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren. Aside from his parents and wife, Roger was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Ann Gerwig and Ellen Butler; a grandson, Jeremiah Johnson; and a great-grandson, Raymond Huffman. Visitation will be Saturday, January 17, 2015, from noon until 6:00 P.M. at Goodwin - Cale & Harnish Memorial Chapel in Bluffton. A Masonic service will be held immediately following visitation Saturday evening at 6:00 P.M. at the funeral home. A funeral service celebrating Roger's life will be Monday, January 19, 2015, at 10:00 A.M., at the First Baptist Church in Bluffton, with one hour of visitation prior to the service at the church. Pastor Les Cantrell will be officiating. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery in Warren, IN. Memorial contributions in Roger's memory may be given to either the First Baptist Church, Fresenius Medical Care of Wells County, or Heartland Hospice of Fort Wayne.
