Lt. Col. James Ebb Huggins, Jr. (USAF Retired)
HAUGHTON, LA – Lieutenant Colonel James Ebb Huggins Jr. (USAF Retired) was called home to the Lord on Thursday May 19, 2016. James was born on November 24, 1931 and grew up in White Oak, TX. He graduated from White Oak High School in 1949 and from Tulane University in 1953 where he played collegiate football and served as a member of ROTC. He earned a Masters in Education from Centenary College of Louisiana in 1981.
James proudly served his country as a pilot and an air traffic controller in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years. At the time of his retirement in 1974, he had accumulated over 10,000 flying hours, received numerous decorations and had flown combat missions in Vietnam.
After leaving the Air Force, James embarked on a rewarding career as a JROTC high school teacher. He taught thousands of students over the span of 20 years at Parkway High School in Bossier City, many of which are now serving our country in the armed forces. Lt Col. Huggins said that “it was the most satisfying 20 years that one could have, and the most rewarding too. I was developing young Americans that would defend freedom for me and you. It was an opportunity that only comes once in a lifetime — a real blessing for me.” He was extremely proud of all his students.
Lt Col. Huggins also had a great affinity for the sport of Orienteering. He co-founded the Ark-La-Tex Orienteering Society (ALTOS) and was happiest out in the woods, running trails and appreciating the blessings found in Mother Nature (which he fondly called Mother Bird.) Through ALTOS, he brought thousands of young people to the sport and first drew all of the maps that local orienteers use today.
He is survived by his cherished wife of almost 63 years, Lois Elizabeth Huggins. James and Lois traveled the world with the Air Force, living in such diverse places as Bermuda and Germany before they finally settled down in Haughton, La where they have lived for almost 40 years. He is also survived by his three children and their spouses, Linda and Steve Doss, Jim and Bonida Huggins and Debbie and William Orie Hunter III. He is a hero to his six grandchildren and their spouses, Kristin Doss Avila, Brian Doss, Sunni Huggins Scott, Stevi Huggins, William Orie Hunter IV, Audrey Hunter Cefalu and his 15 great grandchildren (three of which bear his name.) He is also remembered by his sister Ruth Gray and nieces Janet Palmer and Freda Goener.
The family would like to thank the entire staff at the Northwest Louisiana War Veterans Home in Bossier City for their loving care of Lt Col. Huggins over the past year. The compassion they showed James and his family will not be forgotten.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, May 24 at 1pm at First United Methodist Church Shreveport (500 Common Street, Head of Texas Street, Shreveport, LA 71101), with a military service following in the garden at the church. The family will receive relatives and friends at a reception at the church immediately following the services.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in memory of Lt Col. Huggins be made to the Northwest Louisiana War Veterans Home at 3130 Arthur Ray Teague Pkwy Bossier City, LA 71112 or First United Methodist Church Shreveport at 500 Common Street, Head of Texas Street, Shreveport, LA 71101 | http://firstshreveport. org/
Rose-Neath Funeral Home
Bossier Chapel
(318)746-2543