Verling D. Huffman, 88, died Aug. 15, 2007, at Golden Plains Health Care Center.

He was born Nov. 25, 1918, in Hutchinson, the son of George Edmund and Mary Evangeline Miller Huffman. He graduated from Hutchinson High School and Salt City Business College. A lifetime resident of Hutchinson, he was a fireman for the Hutchinson City Fire Department, was appointed fire chief in 1962, and retired in 1976.

He belonged to Park Place Christian Church, the Hutchinson Firefighters Local No. 179, and was a life member of the American Legion Lysle Rishel Post No. 68, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Bob Campbell Post No. 1361. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945, with the 58th Ordinance Company, receiving the Purple Heart.

On March 3, 1978, he married Ruth E. Koeppen in Hutchinson. She survives.

Other survivors include: two stepsons, Norman G. Koeppen, Canon City, Colo., and Donald L. Koeppen, Hutchinson; two brothers, Douglas, Hutchinson, and Robert, Wichita; two step-grandsons; and a step-great-granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, George, Don and Bill Huffman; and three sisters, Mildred Ristine, Marcelin Wolcox and Maxine L. Ringer.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Park Place Christian Church, with Pastor Kim Biery presiding. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson. Burial will be in Penwell Gabel Cemetery and Mausoleum, with honors conducted by the Hutchinson Firefighters Local No. 179 Honor Guard, and military graveside rites conducted by the Fort Riley Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Hospice Care of Kansas, or Park Place Christian Church, both in care of the mortuary.