Thomas M. Huddleston

Thomas M. Huddleston age 83, a retired Army colonel and professor emeritus, Northern Virginia Community College, died 5 August 2008 at home. He lived in Walpole, Massachusetts since 1999, having lived in Northern Virginia since 1967.

Colonel Huddleston was born in Washington, DC. He attended Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, Texas and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1946. He served 26 years in the Army as a Field Artillery and Infantry officer with service at various stations in the United States, Korea, Japan and Germany. He spent 19 months in Viet Nam primarily as a Special Forces C Detachment commander. He had been awarded the Legion of Merit with oak leaf clusters, the Bronze Star medal with V, the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, and the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters. After retirement from the Army he taught at the Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas Campus for 23 years.

In 1946 he married Odile Robinson, and they had three sons; John Gilbert Huddleston of Middlebury VT, Jarrett Matthew Huddleston of Brooklyn NY, and Thomas Joseph Huddleston of Wellesley, MA.

Colonel Huddleston received a master's degree in international affairs in 1969, a master's degree in financial management in 1971 and a doctor of education degree in 1982; all from the George Washington University. He was a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College and the National War College.

A life long Roman Catholic, he had served as a Lector at the Blessed Sacrament Church in Walpole for several years.

He was a member of the Foxboro Rotary Club where he served as Secretary for five years and had been President of the Manassas Virginia Rotary Club where he was a member of 25 years. He had been a member of the Tarboro North Carolina Rotary Club in the 1950's. He has also been a Boy Scout leader in Virginia and was an Eagle Scout.

In addition to his wife and children, Colonel Huddleston is survived by his six grandchildren and his brother, James M. Huddleston of York, PA.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday Morning , August 11, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. in the Blessed Sacrament Church East Street (Rt 27) at Diamond Street Walpole. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vistacare Hospice of Westwood, 690 Canton Street Suite 220 Westwood, Massachusetts 02090.