Donald Wise Huffman

1927 - 2025

Donald Wise Huffman

December 5, 1927 - December 5, 2025

Donald Wise Huffman of Roanoke, Va., died on his 98th birthday.

Born on December 5, 1927, Don was the only child of Thomas Elmer Huffman and Virginia Wise Huffman, and the husband of Colleen James Huffman, all of whom predeceased him.

He grew up in Lexington, Virginia and graduated from Lexington High School in 1945. He enrolled in Virginia Tech (then VPI) where he studied Industrial Engineering. While at Tech he was the Battalion Commander of the Cadet Corps, a member of the German Club, and served on the Honor Court. Don was selected for membership in Omicron Delta Kappa, an honorary leadership fraternity, and Scabbard and Blade, an honorary military fraternity. Between 1946 and 1947, he left school to serve in the United States Army. Upon returning to Tech, he graduated in the Class of 1950.

After working for several years, Don attended Washington & Lee University Law School, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. At the same time that he was in law school, Don owned and operated the College Town Shop, a men's clothing store in Lexington. In later life, he remembered those busy years as the happiest of his life.

After moving to Roanoke in 1966, Don served as United States Magistrate, and as an Assistant United States Attorney. He entered private practice in 1976 in Roanoke and enjoyed practicing law for the next forty years.

Active for many years in the Republican Party, Don was elected State Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, serving from 1982 to 1992. He was proud to serve during the presidency of Ronald Reagan, one of his lifetime heroes. For eight years he served on the Board of Visitors of Virginia Tech. He was instrumental in championing a policy that any new structure built on campus must contain Hokie Stone - thus earning the moniker, "Mr. Hokie Stone." He encouraged the planting of trees on the campus that turned orange and maroon in the fall (during football season). He loved Virginia Tech athletics and rarely missed a football or basketball game. When his youngest daughter, Kelly, wanted to get married in October, Don insisted it not be on a home football game weekend.

Don loved gardening and landscaped his Roanoke yard with flowers and shrubs that would bloom for most of the year. He had a special interest in lilies of which he had over 50 varieties and over 500 blooming bulbs. He loved nature and the beauty of Virginia taking many hikes with his daughter, Terry, in whom he instilled a love of birds and native wildflowers. Don was a longtime member of Shenandoah Baptist Church. He considered the late Rev. Robert Alderman as his spiritual mentor.

Don was married to Colleen James Huffman for sixty-five years. He is survived by their two daughters, Terry and her husband, Jim Arnold, of Newport News, Virginia, and Kelly and her husband, Russ Ellis, of Roanoke, Virginia. He is also survived by his five grandchildren, William E. Allaun IV, Merritt Wise Allaun (Greg Walters), Dauer Hawkins Ellis (Riley), Jamie Ellis Fidler (Corey) and Virginia Wise Ellis Shields (Blair). Don was blessed to see the birth of two great-grandchildren, Jackson Ellis Fidler and Watson Ellis Shields. Don is also survived by his longtime caregiver, Rhonda Wood, who he thought of as his third daughter.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Our Lady of the Valley for the compassionate care that they gave our father during his final year.

A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at Oak Grove Cemetery (the former Stonewall Jackson Cemetery) in Lexington, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Don's memory may be made to Virginia Tech Athletics, c/o Virginia Tech Advancement Division, Office of Gift Accounting, 902 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24061 with a notation of VT Athletics - Don Huffman. Condolences may be shared by visiting www.Oakeys.com.

Oakey's Funeral Service - Roanoke Chapel

Downtown Roanoke, VA (540) 982-2100