Bill Huckaby

1959 - 2024

News story
By Mike Sigov
Blade Staff Writer

Bill Huckaby, a car salesman on disability who volunteered for his church and community, died June 8 at Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center. He was 63.

He died from complications of a heart attack, said his wife of 13 years, Pastor Arlene Huckaby, the pastor of Greater Grace Christian Church, where Mr. Huckaby volunteered as a food pantry director and was a member.

"He was generous, loving, and kind to those in need," Pastor Huckaby said. "That's how he lived his life - helping someone else."

Because of a heart condition, he was on disability since 2004, after years as a car salesman at various locations in Michigan, most recently at the Bob Saks automobile dealership in Farmington Hills, where he commuted every day after moving to greater Toledo in 2001.

In 2017, Mr. Huckaby helped establish the church and its food pantry, where he volunteered as the director until the time of death. The pantry serves about 500 families a month.

"He was a wonderful guy," said Tom Keeton, a fellow volunteer. "He was hardworking, and he helped anyone who needed help."

Mr. Huckaby also volunteered as the outreach director of Toledo Men of God, a group of five older Christian men who trained local high-schoolers in lawn care and simple household repairs, mostly at seniors' residences in the Central and Upton avenue area.

He did it from the group's inception in 2015 until 2017, when the Lucas County funding stopped. At least 17 teenagers benefited every year. Before that, he volunteered at the Cherry Street Mission.

Mr. Huckaby was also a Toledo Gospel Rescue Mission board member.

Born Aug. 13, 1959, in New York to Herta Spiess, a German immigrant, and William Huckaby, Sr., an African-American raised in Fitchburg, Mass., he grew up in New England, where he graduated from high school.

Growing up biracial in New England made him fiercely opposed to any kind of discrimination and gave him the drive to volunteer for those in need, Pastor Huckaby said.

In his free time, Mr. Huckaby liked to barbecue. He also enjoyed listening to jazz and traveling.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Luther Huckaby

Surviving are his son, Thomas Huckaby; daughter, Tiana Johnson; stepson, Antonio Coles; and eight grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the House of Day, 2550 Nebraska Ave.

A wake service will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, where a funeral service will immediately follow at 11 a.m.

The family suggests tributes to the church or its food pantry.