Dolan Huffman Sr.

Dolan Huffman, Sr.

Dolan Lafayette Huffman, Sr., 96, of Hickory, passed away March 8, 2026 at Frye Regional Medical Center.

Born May 20, 1929, in Catawba County, he was the son of the late Jessie Propst Huffman and Lee J.M. Huffman.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Betty Little Huffman, son-in-law, James H. Brannon; and a daughter-in-law, Joan Huffman.

A lifelong resident of the area, Dolan devoted much of his life to the family business, Hickory Sheet Metal Company Inc. As a proud second-generation member of the company, he worked there for 80 years serving his community.

Dolan also served his country with honor in the Army National Guard and retired at the rank of Major after 21 years. His sense of duty and commitment extended far beyond his military service and into every part of his life.

Faith was a cornerstone of Dolan's life. He was a lifelong member of Miller's Lutheran Church, where he remained active for all 96 years of his life. For 70 of those years, he shared his voice in the church choir.

In addition to his contributions in the choir, he sang with the Carolina Moonlighters in a barbershop quartet. He was also a dedicated member of the Lions Club.

Dolan had a deep love of reading and was a familiar face at the local library. His family jokes that the shelves there will likely be a little fuller now that he's gone.

Above all, Dolan was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grandfather and great-grandfather. He approached every role in life with loyalty, commitment, and care. Known for his strong work ethic and perfectionist nature, he believed that anything worth doing was worth doing well.

He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, church community, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Survivors include his son, Lanny Huffman (fiancé Stephanie Logan), of Hickory; daughter, Diane Brannon; and grandchildren, Robert Brannon (Lisa), and their children, Matthew, Jack, and Andrew, of Okinawa, Japan; Meredith Mizell (Chris) and her children, Nicolas and Amelia of Lexington, S.C., and Madison Huffman, of Greer, S.C., and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Miller's Lutheran Church in Hickory with the Rev. Todd Cook officiating.

The family will receive prior to the service from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Hickory.

Memorials in Dolan's honor may be made to Miller's Lutheran Church or the Sipe's Orchard Home at 4431 County Home Road, Conover, NC, 28613.

Bass-Smith Funeral Home & Crematory in Hickory is honored to serve the family of Mr. Huffman.