Francis E. "Gene" Huffmier

Francis Eugene (Gene) was born July 31, 1933 in Irving, Kansas. The 3^rd son of Ralph Francis Huffmier and Mary Ruth Turley Huffmier. When Gene was 4 years old, mother and boys moved to Salina, Kansas where they stayed for several years. While there they attended Salina Bible Church.

When Gene was 8 years old he asked Jesus Christ to be his Savior from the penalty of sin. About that time the family moved to Rock, Kansas where Gene attended grade school for a couple of years. Then moved to Wichita where they stayed.

There was a tent revival on the grounds of Lincoln Elementary school the family attended. From that revival the future Calvary Bible church began.

To help with finances, Gene began throwing papers for the Wichita Beacon. When he was 12 he got enough new subscribers he won a turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner. He literally carried it home in his paper bag 8 or 9 blocks on foot.

His mother worked hard and was able to send him and 2 of his brothers to Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta, Canada for high school.

After a year of college at Prairie Bible School, he came back to Wichita and worked at Beach then Boeing for several years.

In 1954 he met Beth Bledsoe through Youth For Christ. They were married in May 1956. To this union 4 children were born. Sherry Alexander, Pam Huffmier, Scott Huffmier and Ronald Huffmier.

In 1966, Gene joined the Wichita Police Department after serving in police reserves for a couple of years. He was a patrolman, a dispatcher, a traffic investigator, a detective in financial crimes, and retired as a sergeant in Internal Affairs in May 1987.

At that time his brother Don recruited him to go to Grand Rapids Michigan to operate security at the Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music. He did that for 2 years, then went to work at Smith Industries in security for 4 years.

Business at Smith Industries slowed down and he moved back to Wichita where he worked security at Wesley Hospital for a few months.

A friend made him aware of a position with the city of Maize, Kansas. From that position, Maize School system approached him about joining the school district in security. While doing that he set up the school police department where he worked for 3 or 4 years and retired for good in 1999.

Gene loved the Lord and was a faithful member at Calvary Bible Church. He was a good handy man and loved working with his hands. He did many projects around his home and enjoyed helping in projects at church.

Gene is preceded in death by his mother, Mary Ruth Sparks. His father, Ralph Francis Huffmier. His son, Scott Eugene Huffmier. Brother, Ken Huffmier and wife Joan. Brother Dave Huffmier.

He is survived by wife, Beth. Daughters, Sherry Alexander and Pam Huffmier. Son Ron Huffmier and wife Sandy. Brother Don Huffmier and wife Bonnie. Paul Sparks and wife Alicia and sister-n-law Iva Huffmier. Nine grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Gene was deeply loved and will be greatly missed here on earth. But we are looking forward to seeing him again very soon with Jesus our Savior.