Funeral for John Heyman (Blondie) Hugghins, 94, of Mesquite, formerly of Midland, was at 3 p.m. May 22 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church with Pastor Richard W. Edwards officiating. Burial was in Resthaven Memorial Park, Midland under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home.
Mr. Hugghins died Friday, May 18.
Mr. Hugghins was born Dec. 22, 1912 in Rusk to John Hoover and Atha Hendrick Hugghins.
He grew up in East Texas and was cared for by his grandparents and his Aunt Bertie and Aunt Edith after his mom died of influenza in 1918, while his dad worked in the West Texas oil fields. Later he graduated from the Stephen F. Austin Training School and taught high school for three years in the Nacogdoches area. He owned a men's haberdashery for a short time in East Texas and in 1935 joined Gulf Oil Corp. in Crane.
He and Margaret Johnston married in June 1940. They moved to Midland in 1959. His professional career included well service, geology, engineering, maintenance management and purchasing. He retired from Gulf as regional manager of transportation and purchasing in 1978 after 42 years of service.
Mr. Hugghins served during World War II in the U S Army Signal Corp, December 1942- August 1946, while stationed in Sacramento, Calif., Baltimore Md., Okinawa, Japan and the Philippine Islands. He was an active member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church since 1960, until his move to Mesquite in 2002.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Margaret Hugghins, in 2002, his brother Tommie and his parents and step mother, Tella Hughes.
Survivors are his son and daughter-in-law, Ted and Cathy Hugghins of Fort Dodge, Iowa; a daughter and son-inlaw, Hedy and Buz Sawyers of Rowlett; five grandchildren, Taylor and Sam Sawyers of Rowlett; and Seth, Luke and Hope Hugghins of Fort Dodge; nieces and nephews; and numerous cousins, some in the Rusk area.
Memorials may be directed to any Hospice organization or to St. Luke's Music Ministry, 3011 West Kansas, Midland 79701.
Information from The Cherokeean Herald