William "Bill" Huffman

William "Bill" Sherman Huffman of Mansfield, Ohio, age 87, died Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at his home in Mansfield. Sherman was born in Salem, Indiana, on December 7, 1927, the son of Floyd and Carrie Huffman.

A World War II veteran, Sherman quit high school his junior year to join the U. S. Navy. His father went to Louisville, Kentucky, with him to give permission for him to join the Navy, since he was only 17-under age for the draft. Two years later, the war was over and Sherm returned to Salem, took the equivalent of the GED test and received his diploma from Salem High School in 1947.

Sherm was a Railway Postal Clerk on the Monon for three years. After this, he sorted mail aboard rolling post offices on the Erie Railroad from Marion, Ohio to Chicago, Illinois, for many years. He finished his career at the Mansfield Post Office.

You have to understand, because he was a Hoosier, William Sherman Huffman was a tad different from the common run of world travelers. Sherm and his wife, Judy were world class travelers. They have driven a car across the wilds of Tierra del Fuego at the bottom of the world, and rode railroad trains over the Andes and across India. You name it, Sherm and Judy have been there.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Judy Kinton Huffman; and two sons, Jay Huffman (Robin) and Scott Huffman (Tammy). He is also survived by granddaughters, Holly Huffman Zistler (Jeff), Heidi Huffman Caires (David), Brittany Huffman (Ben Deppen), and Ashton Huffman; great granddaughters, Eden Anna-Marie and Elinore Ann Caires, and Avery Raine Huffman; brothers, Robert Huffman (Peggy) and Patrick Huffman (Patricia); sister, Peggy Huffman Walters; and brother-in-law Douglas Kinton (Patricia).

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Gracie; son, George Floyd; three sisters, Dorothy Huffman Chastain, Carrie Huffman Rutherford and Janice Huffman Clouse; and one brother, Dr. James Floyd Huffman.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Monday, October 12, 2015, in the Diamond Street Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 98 S. Diamond St., Mansfield. The funeral service conducted by Pastor Matthew Pond will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 13, 2015, at the funeral home with additional visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Mansfield Cemetery with military honors presented by the Richland County Joint Veterans Burial Detail. Memorial contributions may be made to OhioHealth MedCentral Hospice.