Robert Evans Hufft, Jr. M. D. passed away on August 11th, 2023 after a short battle with cancer. Bob and his twin sister Linda Loy (Newton) were born to Robert E. and Gail Loie (Carter) Hufft on August 5, 1940 at the Junction City, Kansas hospital. At age three months, his parents returned to their native Liberty, Missouri where he grew up and was a 1958 graduate of Liberty High School where he lettered in varsity football, basketball and track. He was active in Boy Scouts obtaining Eagle Scout, God and Country and Tribe of Mic-O-Say awards. Bob graduated from William Jewell College in 1962 with a double major in Mathematics and Physics and was a member of Sigma Pi Sigma Scholastic Society. He achieved seven varsity letters in football and track, 1961 first team all-conference football honors as an end and was a member of a MCAU conference mile relay championship and individual conference half mile runner up. While at William Jewell, he was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity. From 1962-64 he pursued, on a fellowship, and obtained a Master of Science degree in Physics at the University of Missouri Rolla. During that time he evolved the idea that he wanted to pursue a career in medicine. There were issues of pre-med courses, finances and military draft. He solved all by being one of two full time instructors in Physics at SMS (Missouri State) in 1964-65.
Dr. Hufft received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Missouri Columbia in 1969. While in medical school he did externships in Nuclear Medicine at Oak Ridge Laboratory and Cardiology-Nephrology at Guys Hospital, London. Medical School was followed by an internship in Internal Medicine-Cardiology at Emory Grady Hospital under noted cardiologist J. Willis Hurst. Dr. Hufft was a captain and general medical officer in the USAF 1970-72 at Goodfellow Air Force Base, San Angelo, Texas. He then did an Orthopedic Surgery Residency under Dr. Don O' Donahue, father of Sports Medicine, University of Oklahoma. In 1975 a Fellowship in spine, pediatric and rehabilitation surgery was completed at USC Rancho Los Amigo Hospital, Downey, California. Dr. Hufft was a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon, member of the Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and practiced in Springfield, Mo. from 1976 until his retirement in December 2010.

Bob and Diane Lee Riesenberg were married June 7, 1969 at University Heights Baptist Church, Springfield, Missouri. To that union were born Ashley Evans, Amy Lee and Matthew Edwin. While living in Springfield he was a forty year member of Kingsway Methodist Church where he taught Sunday school for ten years. He loved farming, raising cattle, hunting and being part of his children and grandchildren's activities. He was very proud of being a lifetime eighteen gallon blood donor and a big fan of the Royals and Chiefs. Bob was predeceased by his parents and twin sister, Linda. Survivors are his loving wife of fifty-four years, Diane, children Ashley, Amy (Kourtney Howell) and Matthew (Jesse). Four grandchildren he loved dearly Rock (Evans), Maxwell (Eyasu), Cash (Mathias) and Clover ( Rose). Also his sister Amy (Larry D.D.S.) Kanning.
Graveside service will be held on Monday, August 14th at 1pm at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery, Higginsville. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to Unbound, www.unbound.org, 1 Elmwood Ave., Kansas City, MO 66103.