DR. MAXINE M. HUFFMAN

DR. MAXINE M. (ORMISTON) HUFFMAN, 93, passed away on Wednesday, June 5, 2013. Born May 11, 1920, in Fort Wayne, she was a daughter of Carl and Ruth (Riley) Ormiston. At the time of her passing, she was surrounded by her three daughters and many generations of her family. She married Vernon J. Huffman on Oct. 21, 1941. Dr. Huffman graduated from South Side High School in 1938. She worked for Allison Engines and Fort Wayne Tailoring before beginning college at age 38. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Education in 1962 and her Master's Degree in Elementary Education in 1966 from University of Saint Francis. She graduated with a PhD in Education from Ball State in 1971. She was a State Licensed Reading Specialist and the Administrator responsible for the Reading Clinic at both University of Saint Francis and IPFW. Dr. Huffman taught at IPFW for 28 years and played a key part in the development of over 8000 teachers as Assistant Professor of Education, Director of Student Teaching, and Supervisor of Field Experience. After retiring, she became employed by Allen County Education Fund for 12 years to develop curriculum. She developed the Parent Literacy Enrichment branch of Project READS. With her knowledge and guidance, a more highly targeted curriculum for parents whose children were reading below grade level was established. She said "As a teacher myself, I know the optimal learning environment for children is created when teachers and parents are working together. Therefore, we have an obligation to educate the parents." She is survived by her daughters, Diane (Gene) Olwin, Cynthia (Vincent) Bane and Susan (George) Wolf; siblings, Thelma Sperone, Virginia Lough, Dr. James Ormiston, and Carl Ormiston; eight grandchildren, James Lucas, Eric Lucas, Tracey Richardville, Scott Olwin, Ashley Doctor, Vincent Bane III, Jeffrey Bane, and Zachary Thompson; 19 great-grandchildren, Ben Lucas, Ryan Lucas, Hannah Lucas, Kaitlyn Lucas, Chloe Lucas, Jay Priest, Sara Priest, Patrick Richardville, Reece Olwin, Ailsa Doctor, Liberty Doctor, Casey Bane, Bridget Bane, Aiden Bane, Vincent Bane IV, Chandler Thompson, Marin Thompson, Morgan Thompson, and Jackson Thompson; and one great-great-grandson, Pierce Lucas. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon J. Huffman, in 1986; grandson, S. Francis Olwin, in 1979; grandson, Nathan Thompson, in 1998; and brother, Darrell Ormiston, in 2012. In respect for her wishes, an Open House in Celebration of her life is from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 8, 2013, at Hall's Guest House, 1313 W. Washington Blvd. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Allen County Education Partnership 709 Clay St. Suite 101, Fort Wayne IN, 46802, which endows a scholarship in the name of Dr. Maxine Huffman. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.domccombandsons.com