Avon Obituary: Robert Hufsmith, 94

Robert Fulton Hufsmith, 94, of Avon, beloved husband of Louise Bedford Hufsmith for 69 years, passed away peacefully in his sleep Tuesday, August 18.

He was born May 3, 1921, in Pacific, MO, to Frederick and Opal Telle Hufsmith. He was predeceased by his brother Fred and his sisters Dolores and Rosemary. He graduated from North High School in Denver, CO, in 1940, then entered the U.S. Navy and graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration with the rank of ensign. He served as supply officer on the USS Providence in the Mediterranean before transferring to the battleship USS Missouri. Discharged in 1946, Robert returned to Boston and married Louise. They made their first home in Denver.

He worked in merchandising for Montgomery Ward and American Boch. Then, in 1952, he embarked on a 34-year career at the Barnes Group in Bristol, where he became Manager, Industrial Sales, North America. After Robert retired, he and Louise moved to Governor’s Bridge in Tariffville and traveled the world. Recently, they moved to the Residence at Brookside in Avon.

He is survived by his wife Louise; his daughter Denis and her husband Doug Robinson of Columbia; his daughter Colleen and her husband Michael Oristaglio of Newtown; his son Robert and his wife Cynthia Hufsmith of Avon; his grandchildren Michael and Tom Oristaglio, Jessica and her husband Matt Hebert, and Justin Hufsmith; his great-grandchildren Liam and Payton Hebert; his step-grandchildren Sharon Johnson, Pamela Jeroszko, Kim Robinson, and Brian Robinson; his sister-in-law Ardelle Bedford; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Saturday, August 29, at 10:30 a.m. at the Simsbury United Methodist Church, 799 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury. Calling hours will be at 9:30 a.m., prior to services, across the street from the church at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street. Burial with full military honors will follow the services in the Simsbury Cemetery on Plank Hill Road above the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Robert’s memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.

The New Britain Memorial-Donald D. Sagarino Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences please visitwww.newbritainsagarino.com.