ELKHART -- Gertrude Leora Huffman, 96, died Thursday (Feb. 12, 2009) at 9:10 a.m. at Elkhart General Hospital.

She was born Oct. 14, 1912, in Buncombe County, N.C., to Albert Anderson and Mary Harwood. She married Robert Huffman on Aug. 25, 1929, in Elkhart. He died in Elkhart in 1965.

She is survived by four daughters, Barbara Waterman, Connie Christy and Vickie Ide, all of Elkhart, and Mary (Bob) Allen of Edwardsburg, Mich.; four sons, Robert J., Roy, Jack and Richard (Jenny) Huffman, all of Elkhart; 16 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one son, Frank; two daughters, Bonnie Huffman and Betty Vincent; one grandson, Kenneth Christy; one great-grandson, Robert F. Huffman Jr.; one brother, Aaron; and one sister, Ruby Huffman.

Mrs. Huffman spent most her life as a seamstress for various Elkhart companies, including 29 years at Boris Smoler and Son, before retiring in the early 1970s. She was a longtime member of the Women of the Moose Elkhart No. 599 and enjoyed playing bingo and cards, including euchre and crazy eights. In her earlier years, she was an extensive traveler, visiting most of the United States and Canada. She spent her free time with friends and family.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, followed by the funeral service at 1 p.m. Pastor Carl Henry of Northside Baptist Church will officiate and burial will follow the service at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Osceola.

Memorials may be given to the American Alzheimer's Association or the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Online condolences may be sent at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.