W.P,. Huffman, Manager of Hotel Huffry, Died at the Hotel, April 28, 1919

From the Hickory Daily Record, Monday, April 28, 1919

W.P. Huffman, Good Citizen, Passes

Mr. William P. Huffman, for many years one of Hickory’s most prominent citizens and organizer of Hotel Huffry, of which he has been manager for the past nine years, died at the hotel on Saturday night at 11:15 of progressive atrophy of the muscles. He was 58 years old on February 20 last.

Mr. Huffman was prominent in the business and church life of Hickory. As a manager of the hotel, it was his pleasure to see that the lawn, as well as the building, was kept in beautiful taste, and if he had left no other work, the beautiful lawn which received his attention in life will remain as a testimony to his character. He was a devout member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran church and was active in the affairs of his church. Four years ago he was first stricken, bur he fought valiantly against an affliction that slowly sapped his vitality. For two years he had been helpless.

Mr. Huffman is survived by his wife and eight children—six sons and two daughters. These are Mr. Ara Huffman of Asheville, Reuel of Brookfield, Mo., Cyril of Hickory; Arthur, member of the ninth division overseas, Grover and Ewart of Hickory, Mrs. E.E. Randolph of Bryan, Texas, and Miss Mary Huffman of Hickory. He is also survived by one brother, Mr. Jeff Huffman, and one sister.

The funeral service will be conducted from Holy Trinity Lutheran church tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’clock by Dr. F.C. Longaker, assisted by Rev. C.R.W. Kegley. No service will be held at the hotel, and the interment will be in Oakwood cemetery.

(From the editorial page of the same newspaper)

W.P. Huffman

W.P. Huffman, whose death occurred Saturday night, appreciated beauty. Hundreds of traveling men who came to Hickory have been rested by sitting on the hotel porch and looking across the lawn of this property. Mr. Huffman believed in flowers and shrubbery, and it was his custom for many years always to see that flowers were placed in the rooms of his guests. He conducted a good hotel, but the thing which impressed visitors most were those little attentions which showed the soul of the man. He was interested in civics to a high degree, and this interest was shown first at home. Many men come and go and leave their impression on the community, but the Record believes that Mr. Huffman’s love of nature as manifested in the hotel lawn has left an impress that will be beneficial for years to come. He left something to the community which he helped to advance.