Charles Huggins

CMSgt. Charles (Charlie) Eugene Huggins, Sr., U.S.A.F/ retired, age 80, was born in Collinsville, Mississippi on July 4, 1932 and passed away at home on January 7, 2013. Visitation will be Friday, January 11th, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Boone Funeral Home Airline Drive in Bossier City. Graveside services will be held at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans? Cemetery 7970 Mike Clark Road Keithville, LA on Saturday, January 12 at 2:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon Mitchell Huggins and Laura Bell Blalock Huggins, sister, Dorothy Fisher; three brothers, Hubert F. Huggins, J. W. Huggins and Rayford Huggins; grandson, Christopher Ryan Huggins. Survivors include his beloved wife of 60 years Bettye, son Charles Huggins, three daughters, Sherrie Langley, Carolyn Manning, and Cynthia Huggins Fairchild, eight grandchildren, Robin Huggins Roberts and wife Lanie, William Langley and wife Loretta, Sabrina Langley, Haley Huggins, Callie Manning; Katie, Catherine, and Candace Fairchild; four great grandchildren, Madison Langley, Lucy Roberts, Elizabeth and William J. Langley IV: two sisters, Edna Wagenstien and Gladys Hinkle and sister-in-law, Georgia (Polly) Huggins. Charlie met Bettye Hart Huggins at the local YMCA swimming pool in downtown Shreveport. They dated because her mother insisted that she speak to that boy that kept calling and they were soon married on March 18, 1952. Charlie was honorably discharged from the Army of the United States January 4, 1951. Later he joined the United States Air Force and served in 30 countries while on active duty. Charlie participated in the 1956-1957 Hungarian Airlift, and the 1961 Belgian Congo Evacuation. In 1975 he set up an operation to evacuate children and orphan children from South Vietnam. While stationed in the Philippines he spearheaded a drive to improve the health and living conditions at a Catholic Orphanage. Charlie was the Chief of Maintenance for the F16 Test Program at Edwards Air Force Base until his honorable discharge from the Air force in 1978. During his military career he was awarded numerous citations including the Bronze Star. After retiring from the USAF in 1978, Charlie joined the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs in July 1980 and retired in 1997. Charlie would help any veteran, widow or child of veterans, regardless of their location. After retiring from Department of Veterans Affairs, he served on the Natchitoches Parish Police Jury from January 2000 through August 2011 and also served as president of the Natchitoches Parish Police Jury. Organizations include Shriners, Mason, VFW - Lifetime Member, Air Force Sergeants? Association-Lifetime Member, American Legion - Lifetime Member, Past Commander of the Gordon Peters Post #10, Vice Chairman - Louisiana Veterans Affairs Commission, American Legion Boys? State Commission of the 8th District, AMVETS, and Cane River Waterway Commission. Charlie said, ?My country and community have been good to me and my family, and I try to give something back to both?my country and my community.? This was his philosophy on life. Memorials in Lieu of flowers may be donated to Northwest Louisiana Veterans? Home in Bossier City or the Shriners Hospital in Houston, Texas.