Wendell Huff
January 18, 1941 ~ November 30, 2024
Wendell Caleb Huff, 83, passed away on November 30, 2024 surrounded by family after a brief but brave battle with melanoma.
Wendell was born in Linefork, KY on January 18, 1941 to John D. and Myrtle (Halcomb) Huff and was proud of his eastern Kentucky heritage. He was a graduate of Kingdom Come High School in Linefork and moved to Indiana in December of 1960. Wendell married Wanda Tarpley and they celebrated their 60th anniversary in January 2024.
He is survived by his wife and three children: W. Keith (Vicki) Huff, Debra Gooldy and Greg (Pam) Huff; five grandchildren: Ryan (Shellie) Huff, Chelsea Huff, Shelby Gooldy, Reagan Huff and Caroline Huff; and one great grandchild, Harper Huff. Also surviving are siblings Waylon (Priscilla) Huff, Grace Parrott and Dale (Brenda) Huff.
He was preceded in death by his parents and thirteen siblings: Mae Ison, Monette Ison, Susie Cornett, Clarence Huff, Edgar Huff, Elmo Huff, Gwendolyn Farmer, Vivian Halcomb, Rodney Huff, Allene Foley, Buel Wayne Huff, Lindell Huff and Gary Huff.
He began working for Cummins Engine Co. in February of 1962 where he worked as a tool maker until retiring in 2009 as a proud and faithful employee of 47 years.
He was a long time member of Shiloh Baptist Church where he served as a Trustee for many years.
Wendell was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge, serving as Past Master of the Westport Lodge No. 52.
His hobbies included gardening, beekeeping, bird watching, hunting, fishing, metal detecting and collecting Indian relics. He was an avid Indiana University basketball fan but also rooted for Purdue and the University of Kentucky when not playing IU. Most will remember him for his work ethic, willingness to help other, friendly disposition and ability to fix things. His favorite time was with family and enjoyed watching his grandchildren participate in basketball, dance recitals, cheerleading, soccer and musicals.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to Our Hospice of South Central Indiana (https://ourhospice.org/donations/) and Love Chapel (https://givebutter.com/LoveChapel).
Visitation will be at Jewell-Rittman on Saturday December 7, 2024 from 10:30 a.m. until time of service at 1:30 p.m.
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Heavenly Sentiments Spray was purchased for the family of Wendell Huff.
We are so sorry for your loss. Prayers and Hugs to the family.
– The Polli Family
So very sorry to hear about Wendell! Bless his heart! He helped me a lot with things when I moved into the neighborhood. A newly divorced mom with 2 kids. He knew my stepdad who was also from Eastern Kentucky. I always seen him at the high school ball games and had the cleanest garden I ever seen! God bless you Wanda and family ❤️
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So sorry to hear the passing of our dear uncle Wendell. Prayers for comfort to Wanda and family.
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Thinking of you all right now. We are so lucky to have had Uncle Wendell in our lives. Mark and I made a donation to American Cancer Society in his name hoping it might make life a little easier on other families. Uncle Wendell was a character and will always be remembered.
Wendell Huff was a good friend of mine. He was a good hearted and kind man. He was a great tool maker and made some of the fixtures I designed. In the almost 40 years I worked at Cummins I
Wendell Huff was a good friend of mine. He was a good hearted and kind man. He was a great tool maker and made some of the fixtures I designed. In the almost 40 years I worked at Cummins I never saw him anything but in a positive light, even with some of the challenges I gave him in my designs. He was always a help to me. I could tell he was a man of God.
There was a time that I happened to tell Wendell about something that really happened to me. I never saw a man enjoy a story as Wendall did that day. He laughed like I’d never seen him laugh before.
I’ve always been awkward. Sometimes quickly thinking, I’d react to a situation without giving a lot of thought to it. It so happened on my way home one day I stopped at what was once a Little Champ service station in Taylorsville. It was right at the stop light. I had been in to get a gallon of milk. On the way out I witnessed a Mexican American family in a car and I could tell they were lost. I pulled up beside them and, window to window, I asked if I could help. He replied in broken English but I made out the word “Kentucky”…I knew I could help and told him to let me turn around and I’d take him where he needed to go.
He followed me as I drove under the overpass of I-65. We made our way up on the access ramp of I-65. It was a rare occurrence and there was no traffic. I told him that, “This is I-65 South and if you follow this route it would take you right into Louisville…Kentucky.”
With a puzzled face he said, “No, no…Kentucky Fried Chicken”. I panicked. I told him to follow me…and off we went. We went a short distance and even though I knew it was wrong…we made a quick, illegal U Turn…
With an embarrassed red face, as we drove back south. I meekly pointed to the KFC that was only a few hundred feet from that Little Champ service station.
I had never seen Wendell laugh like that before. It felt good to make my friend laugh. He always was down to earth and it made me feel good inside.
I went back upstairs to my desk. It wasn’t all that long that Wendell appeared with two friends from the shop floor. Wendell would not leave until I had told these two my story. I hesitated but after some coaxing from Wendell, I did tell them what happened that day. I can still hear them laughing as they disappeared down those stairs to the shop floor…
Wendell had done so much for me in the past and it did my heart good to see him enjoy my story that day. I’m sure it stuck with him from that day on. I still think of it from time to time. I gave something to him that day…
What he didn’t know is that his happiness that day gave me a good memory, too. What a kind and decent man he was. And. I will always remember him with that smile on his face.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if more of us were more kind to one another…more positive?
Chubb Financial Lines Family purchased the Beautiful in Blue for the family of Wendell Huff.
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Love and prayers
Randy and Connie Jines
Loved by so many, will be missed greatly.