Lynne Ione Hufziger

Marilyn (Lynne) Ione Hufziger was born on October 16, 1928 in Dayton, Ohio to Margaret Ione McGee, a lady housewife and Victor Emanuel Showalter, an Aeronautical engineer and pioneer navigator. She was the second of three children born to this couple, an older brother, Victor M. Showalter (Deceased) and baby sister Carol Loehrke Ellis (of Ottawa, Ohio). Lynne died peacefully in the early morning of Sunday, September 2, 2018 at La Posada, Mesilla Valley Hospice after having experienced a sudden decline in health. Lynne spent many childhood years living in Elgin, Illinois where her dad was the Director of the Aeronautical Instrumentation Division at the Elgin Watch Company. Many fond memories of this time in Lynne's young life were often recalled: playing Field Hockey, speed skating, visiting museums in Chicago, and of course riding every horse she could find in between. Lynne was twelve years old when her dad suddenly died at age forty-two. The young family had no choice but to move back to Dayton, Ohio and live with Lynne's maternal grandparents, Malcolm and Ottie "Meme" McGee where she remained living with her extended family until graduating from college. Lynne graduated from the University of Dayton in 1951 attaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education with minors in English and History. While at the U of D., she was on the women's basketball team, taught swimming and water ballet at the YWCA, conditioned and showed three and five gaited horses. She was an Out Rider and led off the harness races in Lebanon, Ohio and the Dayton Raceway. As an expert horsewoman, she taught English saddle riding classes to many young horse lovers, and barrel raced on Western saddles for a thrill ride in her spare time. It was during this time, while teaching swimming at the YWCA, that Lynne met and eventually married a young musician and dental school student, Dale Hufziger. Lynne and Dale married in June of 1954. Upon Dale's graduation from dental school, he fulfilled his scholarship obligation for ROTC and was enlisted into the Army and assigned to Ft. Hood, Texas. While stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas, Lynne and Dale's two children Paul D. Hufziger and Jean L. Hufziger were born. Eventually the family moved back to Ohio and Dale started into private practice. Lynne's marriage to Dale eventually ended in divorce in 1970. Always independent and strong, Lynne continued to advance her teaching career while providing the majority of support for her two young children. Lynne enjoyed much fulfillment and success in the education field. She was a classroom teacher for Ohio and South Carolina School Districts for a combined 23 years. She was always a strong advocate for youth education, encouraging and guiding many to succeed in realizing their dreams through the advancement of Career and Vocational Education programs. Lynne supervised the South Carolina State Career Education Program from 1983 to 1995 when she retired and made the "big move" out west to Las Cruces, NM where she could be nearer to her daughter Jean and family. But retirement did not suit our Mom for long. She felt a strong desire to continue to advocate for the advancement of career development programs in New Mexico and was hired to become the Tech-Prep Supervisor for NM State Department of Education. She worked diligently in this position, living and enjoying life in Santa Fe for five years. She then decided to resign her position and returned to live the rest of her days in Las Cruces. Lynne lived an active, vibrant life, right up to the very end. She always credited her good health to the many years she was involved in athletics and was riding and enjoying horses well into her eighties. She rode many, many miles with "Chaparral", a pure-bred Tennessee Walker that she had loved for nearly 25 years. Her heart was broken when the day came to put Chaparral down. Not one to be long without a horse, Mom (with the help of her son Paul) found "Sonny" another registered Tennessee Walker and was able to care for him for many more years. Her constant canine companions Chata, and then Cisco, brought much joy, and then heartbreak when Chata had to be put down. Mom lived and rode her horses along the ditch roads and cotton fields for many years while living on a beautiful acre of land in the north Mesilla Valley. These were some of her happiest years as it was her childhood dream to live out west on a ranch where she could see her beautiful horse every day. It is comforting to know that Mom is riding Chaparral in heaven with little Chata riding side saddle. Lynne is survived by her sister Carol Ellis of Ottawa, Ohio, her son Paul Hufziger of Montpellier, Idaho and her daughter Jean Hufziger and son-in-law Kevin Cranitch of Las Cruces, NM. She is also survived by granddaughter Ouida Brumit (David) of Albuquerque, NM and Jessica Bailey (Derek) of Denver, Colorado, and four great-grandchildren. Per Lynne's request, no services are planned. Family and friends will gather for a Celebration of Lynne's life at Jean and Kevin's home on October 14, 2018. Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home, corner of Solano and Bowman Ave. To sign our local online guestbook, please log onto www.GetzCares.com.