Vinton Frederick Huff

Vinton Fredrick Huff was born on March 27, 1921, in Mexico, Missouri, to Bina Mae and John Fredrick Huff. He grew up on a farm near Mexico with his brothers Harold, Forest and Keith, and his sister, Evelyn. He graduated from high school in 1940, lettering in football. Some of his most cherished memories were of his friends, Sid Hagan and Nelson Willingham; riding his motorcycle; and driving his beloved car, the Ford Phaeton convertible. In 1941 he met and began dating Helen Marie Leach. In the spring of 1942, he was drafted by the Army, but instead of joining the Army, he took a train to St. Louis with his friend Sid where they both enlisted in the Navy. While serving in the Navy, Vinton was assigned as a motor mechanic on landing craft aboard the USS Zeilin, a troop transport ship, and helped deliver soldiers to the South Pacific Islands where they fought the Japanese during World War II. Helen worked at the Naval Air Station in San Diego, California during the war years, and in 1943 she and Vinton were married there. During his years in the Navy, Vinton also took classes at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. After his discharge from the Navy, Helen and Vinton lived in Mexico, Missouri where their daughters, Gretchen and Cathy were born. When the girls were seven and three years old, the family moved to Denver, Colorado where Vinton launched his career installing floor coverings, tile, and countertops. Helen helped support the family as Meetings Clerk with the Denver Public Schools. Vinton was a strong, ornery man who lived his life with zest. He loved to have good times with friends and family, play cards, travel, hunt, fish, garden and watch the Denver Broncos. He had amazing skills as a carpenter, electrician and plumber and could fix almost anything that needed fixing around the house or yard. Vinton was also known for his bargain finds and creative decorating ideas. He had a marvelous sense of humor and was infamous for his mischievous ways. Vinton Huff was a man who took such great pride in everything he did. Everything was done to near perfect, if not perfect, and most importantly his way. His life was full of great love for his wife, Helen, and daughters, Gretchen and Cathy. His son-in-law, Rod, was like a 'son' to him. He had four outstanding grandchildren, Tim, Greg, Jeff and Chresta, all of whom he enjoyed spending time with. Tim and his wife Christie are the parents of his great grandchildren, Madison and Jason. Chresta and her husband Paul are the parents of his great grandchildren, Isabella and Noah. Jeff is engaged to be married to Shannon Wood in June of 2007. Vinton loved and laughed with his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Greg, who was a kindred soul. A memorial has been established with Hospice of Metro Denver, 425 S. Cherry St., Denver, CO 80222.