Donald D. Huffman, 91, of Clearfield and formerly of Pittsburgh was called home to be with his Lord on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010.
Born Sept. 8, 1919, at Bolivar, Ohio, he was the third child and second son of the six children of Nora (Cooper) and Herbert Huffman. He was raised on his family’s farm in Central Ohio.
He is a 1937 graduate of Bolivar High School and held degrees in Electrical Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh.
On Dec. 8, 1945 he married June Cahall of Pittsburgh. The couple resided in Pittsburgh until 2007 when they moved to Clearfield to reside with their daughter, Judy and son-in-law, C. Alan Walker.
Don is survived by his wife June, one son, Don, Jr. of San Mateo, California, and one daughter, Judy and her husband Alan, of Clearfield. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Dr. Scott Huffman of Irvine, California, Derek A. Walker of Bigler, and Courtney W. Spencer and her husband, Andy of Clearfield, and three great grandchildren, Cole, Kardon, and Kendall Spencer. In addition, a sister, Alice Ross and her husband Russell of Bolivar, Ohio along with numerous nieces and nephews survive.
Don was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Ray, Forrest and Jim and one sister, Dorothy all of Ohio.
In July, 1941, Don was drafted into the U.S. Army. He spent most of the next four years in the European Theater where he became an expert in signaling and radio intelligence. Don was part of the D-Day operation for the liberation of Europe and landed at Omaha Beach in June, 1944. He headed the Advance Section of Communications and operated right behind the advancing Army.
In July, 1945, Don’s unit was chosen to handle all communications for the Americans at the Potsdam Conference. Every message back to the U.S. had to be encrypted because the Russians were trying to learn what the Americans were planning for the future of Germany and Europe. For his cryptographic and electronics expertise and for outstanding work in support of the Liberation Forces, Don was awarded the Bronze Star. Following his discharge from active service in 1945, Don spent an additional 13 years in the Army Reserves where he earned the rank of Major.
In February, 1946 Don started to work at Union Switch and Signal as a wiring plan layout designer. He was promoted to Supervising Engineer, Section Engineer, Section Manager and in 1973 was named Vice President of Engineering for Westinghouse Air Brake. At the time of his retirement in 1982 after 36 years of service to “The Switch”, Don held five U.S. patents related to railroad signaling systems; and was recognized as the foremost signaling and circuitry expert in the country. The technology he developed is still in use in many countries today.
An active member of Hebron Presbyterian Church in Penn Hills, he served as a deacon, trustee and elder. Don was President of the Penn Hills Chapter of AARP and was a long time member of the Association of American Railroads and was responsible for developing standards for Railroad Signaling for the 100 plus railroads that were active in the U.S. at that time.
He will be remembered fondly by his family for his unconditional love, strong faith, keen intellect, respect for his fellow man, positive attitude and sense of humor. His faith based moral compass was the source of great wisdom and inspiration to all who knew him. He had a passion for golf and was able to score his age until he was in his mid-80’s.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Kevin A. Beardsley Funeral Home of Clearfield and online condolences can be made at www.beardsleyfuneralhome.com.
The service will be held at the Clearfield Presbyterian Church on Oct. 16 at 11:00 a.m. followed by interment at the Crown Crest Memorial Park at Hyde.
The family suggests contributions be made to the Hebron Presbyterian Church, 10460 Frankstown Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15235-2935 or the Clearfield Foundation for Health, c/o Clearfield Hospital, 809 Turnpike Avenue, Clearfield, PA 16830.
