Reverend Richard Leonard Huggins

Richard Leonard Huggins passed away at 86 in Lakeland, Florida, Monday, March 10, 2025. He was born to the late Gerald Richard Huggins and Josephine Leonard Huggins on August 29, 1938, in Wheeling, West Virginia and was raised in nearby Wellsburg, West Virginia on the Ohio River.

Dick met his first wife, then Joy Scott, in the 6th grade. They married after graduation from Davis and Elkins College where Dick majored in English, Philosophy/ Religion, and Drama. Their next stop was Richmond, Virginia where Dick earned his Master of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary and Joy taught high school. Dick was ordained a Presbyterian minister May 26, 1963, in Wellsburg. He served churches and foundations in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New Jersey, Florida, and Aruba. He enjoyed being a pastor but also being involved in politics, acting, storytelling, and fundraising. With his warm outgoing personality and humorous approach to life, Dick made friends wherever he went.

In Pennsylvania, Dick was elected to the Constitutional Convention of 1967-1968 which made him the Honorable Richard L. Huggins. He worked with another Presbyterian minister, Mister Rogers of TV fame to do a Christmas program in Pittsburg, where Dick was the first King Friday. Joy made the sock puppet for that show. Later he talked Senator Byrd of West Virginia into helping him build a home for senior citizens in New Cumberland when Dick was on their city council.

Moving to Lakeland in 1993, Dick worked for the Florida Presbyterian Homes and then was the Florida fundraiser for Thornwell Home and school in Clinton, South Carolina.

After Joy sadly passed away in 2001, Dick married Barbara Wilson (Huggins) and pastored First Presbyterian Church, Auburndale, and McCloud Presbyterian Church in Bartow.

Preceded in death by his wife, Joy, and their daughter, Jennifer Anne Church.

Dick is survived by his wife of 22 years, Barbara Wilson Huggins. Dick has been a wonderful friend and grandfather to Barbara’s family. Dick’s survivors include his son, David, who lives in West Virginia with his wife Leigh. Their young people are Kyle Huggins and Maya Huggins. Grandson Adam Church and his wife Abbey, as well as grand-daughter Sydney Church-Stenger, Dan Stenger, and their children will also miss Dick. The great grands are Aaron, Asher, and Anna Joy Church, Luke and Sam Stenger, and Evee Huggins. Dick was also fortunate to have two sisters Donna Taudte and Linda Huggins.

A Celebration of Life has been scheduled for Dick’s family and friends, Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 10:30 am at the Glenn Moore Chapel of Westminster Lakeland, formerly the Florida Presbyterian Homes.