Obituary for David Huff

David Riley Huff

November 11, 1933 – June 18, 2023

David Riley “Buster” Huff, age 89, went home to his Heavenly Father on Father’s Day, June 18th, 2023. Born in Watonga, Oklahoma on November 11, 1933 to Robert Riley and Maggie Ann (Halbig) Huff, David’s parents could not immediately agree on a name so his sisters began calling him Buster. This loving nickname stayed with him throughout his life and some would be surprised to find out that it wasn’t his real name.

David graduated from Watonga High School in 1952 where he served as FFA Secretary, played football and drove a school bus his senior year.David and Peggy Joan ‘Osborn’ recently celebrated their 69th anniversary after being married in Ponca City, Oklahoma on June 4, 1956. From this union came four children: Jacquie Lynn Hand who preceded him in death on February 26, 2022; Donald Wayne Huff of Perry, Darren Rhu and wife Deana of Edmond, OK; and Kyla Gay and husband Stacy of Orlando, OK. David’s long life blessed him with 5 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren: Kayle Vibbard and husband Kyle, Cody Golay and wife August, Levi Golay and wife Brittany all of Orlando, OK, Riley Huff and soon to be wife Alexa Filley of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Denton Huff of Edmond, OK. Greats include: Kayden and Kinedy Vibbard, Cordell, Aspen, Brooks, Roree, and Avalie Golay.

After graduating from Oklahoma A&M with a BS in Agriculture in 1956, David joined the Army and served until an auto accident injury in 1958. He then began his 31 year career with the Farm Service/ASCS Agency serving in Pawhuska, Atoka and Perry. Outside of work, David spent his life serving others. He was a member of the Mulhall-Orlando Lions Club, Perry Rotary Club, Orlando Volunteer Fire Department, and Kaw Street Chapel where he volunteered with the food pantry. He also served as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher at the First Baptist Church in Perry, and he used his love of playing the guitar to provide song ministry at the local jail with his longtime friend, Ted Green. David’s alma mater later changed their name from Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College to Oklahoma State University which made him an automatic fan of OSU sports, but he later became an even bigger fan of Air Force football when his grandson Riley became a member of their team. In his younger years, he enjoyed gardening and would spend time fishing, setting trout lines, and skiing at Perry Lake with friends and his oldest three children. He was known for wearing swim trunks with work boots at the lake and the family tent was nicknamed Rain Maker because it would rain every time they camped. But nothing took priority over his love of ranching and farming. He instilled his love of farming into his grandson, Levi, but take note that none of his children became farmers after the years of long, hot hours spent in the wheat fields. Don and Darren still swear he purposely waited to get equipment with air conditioning until after they left for college. He also helped restore his mother’s 1950 Ford pickup many years later after Don took possession.

David is preceded in death by his parents, Brothers Robert Lynn, Bill, & Glen and Sisters Elsie Armstrong and Virginia Beneda and his daughter Jacquie Hand.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Alzheimer Research and Prevention Foundation.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 2 PM at First Baptist Church in Perry with Brother Kim Hays officiating. David will be laid to rest at Grace Hill Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be held at Trout Funeral Home of Perry on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 from 10 AM to 8 PM. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home of Perry, 1408 N 7th St, Perry, OK 73077. We invite you to leave a message of condolence, expression of sympathy or perhaps share a memory of David at www.troutperry.com.

Source: Trout Funeral Home