Barbara Ann Huffman

Barbara Ann Huffman, a Flint native, passed away peacefully on 30-August-2026 at Vicinia Gardens in Fenton, Michigan, not long after her 83rd birthday. Daughter of Alton and Helen Bade (Nixon), sister of Richard (Sheri) and Robert (Connie) Bade and wonderful, single mother to Curt Huffman.

Barb was a one in a million character who enjoyed laughter, being on either end of a good joke, and long talks with friends - long-known or yet unmet. She was a founding member of the troupe known as the ‘Amazing Bades’, broke stereotypes for women and single mothers and was an amateur escape artist. Exceptionally smart, she compensated for her poor memory by outsourcing the task to others.

Graduating in 1961 from St John Vianney with a love of math, Barb went on to earn her associate’s degree at Flint Junior College, followed by her Bachelor of Science from Eastern Michigan University in 1966. She started her career as a Med Tech at McLaren Flint, before moving to Los Angeles and working at Glendale Memorial Hospital. After a collecting a few years, a husband and a baby, she returned to Flint in 1969 where she resumed her career at McLaren for another 25 years.

She was always a voracious reader, leaning toward science fiction, giving her a never-ending desire to learn what comes next. She also earned a certificate in Computer Science from UofM Flint in 1986, and was always inventing - at least hypothetically. She was an excellent teacher - of chemistry, laboratory techniques, and how to ‘speak Barb’. She was the family librarian of genealogy and photos and a collector of all things.

She was a doting mother and grandmother, when given the opportunity. Not mastering an iPhone did not slow her down from sending up to 50 texts a day to them.

Surviving friends and family will mourn the silence, including grandsons Kosta and Leon Huffman, very special nieces Janelle (Jeff) Szukhent, Leann (Sott) Ackert, nephews Daniel (Sharon) Bade, David (Christy) Bade, former Daughter-in-Law Asimina, and numerous cousins across the country. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her former husband, James Huffman.

Visitation will be held on Wed., Sept 2 from 3pm - 8am at Sharp Funeral Home, 8138 Miller Rd, Swartz Creek, MI.

A funeral service will be held on Friday Sept. 4 at 11am at St. John Vianney Church, 2415 Bagley St, Flint, MI conducted by Fr. Michael Grzsick. Visitation will commence at 10am prior to the mass.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Rachor Education Foundation Nursing Scholarships in memory of Barbara Huffman. Donations will be matched. Please indicate:

· Area of Greatest Need

· In Memory of Barbara Huffman

· Note: For the Susan Buszek Nursing Scholarship

https://www.mclaren.org/flint-foundation/documents-and-links/online-donation-form-mclaren-flint-foundation-6870