&bsp; He was born in Marshall, Ill., son of Mildred Clapp and Claude Huggins. He lived in Terre Haute, Ind. and graduated from Rose Hulman Institute with a degree in mechanical engineering. He married Marguerite Homann in 1940.

He was a veteran of World War II and served as staff sergeant with the 765th Railway Shop Battalion.

He worked for the Erie and the Erie-Lackawanna Railroads and was chief mechanical officer for the Delaware and Hudson Railroad in Albany, N.Y. He then served as chief mechanical officer for the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad in Cleveland, Ohio until the merger with Conrail. Following the merger he served as superintendent of equipment, western division of Conrail in Chicago, Ill., until his retirement in 1978.

Survivors are his wife, Marguerite Homann Huggins, children, Barbara Mullan (Bill) of Worthington, Ohio and Thom (Jeanne Lynch) Huggins of Lakewood, Ohio, a brother, Richard Huggins, sisters, Martha Howard and Anabel Howard, grandchildren, Mitchell Grimm, Daniel Forbes, Lee Belue, Caitlin Lynch-Huggins, Devon Lynch-Huggins and five great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by brothers Charles Huggins, Robert Huggins, Theodore (Ted) Huggins and a sister, Virginia Read.

He was a member of the Columbus United Methodist Church and the Apple Valley Model Railway Club and a volunteer at Thermal Belt Outreach.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Thermal Belt Outreach Ministries, 134 White Drive, P.O. Box 834, Columbus, NC 28722-0834 or Columbus United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 533, Columbus, NC 28722-0533.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, Feb. 21 at Columbus United Methodist Church, at 10 a.m., Rev. Rob Parson officiating.

Condolences may be left at www.pettyfuneralhome.com.

Petty Funeral Home and Crematory, Landrum, is in charge of arrangements.

‐ paid obituar