Dr. Harry Bascom Huntsman II, 91, of Greensburg, KY, son of the late Harry Bascom Huntsman Sr. and Lillie Mae Morris Huntsman, was born on August 2, 1931 in Phoenix, Arizona and passed away on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at his home.
He initially attended the University of Louisville and was a three-sport varsity athlete in Baseball, Rifle, and Fencing while also serving as a midshipman in the Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. As a midshipman, he served aboard the U.S.S. New Jersey and the U.S.S. Missouri and was trained as an anti-aircraft gunner. He left school to earn tuition money to complete his degree, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Zoology at the University of Kentucky. He was a veteran, having served in the United States Army as a medic at Landstuhl, Germany, during the Korean War. He returned to the University of Kentucky on the Montgomery G.I. Bill to receive a Master of Science degree in Biology, studying the Little Brown Bat and caring for the U.K. live Wildcat mascot as the Small Animal Lab graduate assistant. He became an agent for the Food and Drug Administration, inspecting pharmaceutical and food manufacturing plants; it was never a good idea to ask about things like the allowable insect particulate matter volume in some foods, a piece of trivia that put a high school English teacher of Mary Taylor’s off of tomato ketchup for life.
He decided to attend medical school at the University of Louisville, where he received his doctorate in medicine, and interned at Grace A. Dow Memorial Hospital in Midland, Michigan, entering the practice of general medicine rather than pursue a specialized residency. He was a physician for 52 years and loved to care for his patients and served as Chief of Medical Staff at Jane Todd Crawford Hospital at various times throughout his career- despite the fact that Louisville hesitated to admit him due to his “advanced age” of 30. He was the last member of his medical school class to retire from practice at the age of 87.
When Anne Huston was a pre-teen, he briefly coached a summer league softball team; he also served in rotation as the GCHS football team doctor in the 1980s. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and later became a test shooter for High Country Archery. He also medaled in Senior Archery and Firearms Marksmanship at the Bluegrass State Games. He loved his dogs, celebrating Halloween, German beer, and smoking his pipe. He and his wife had been told (obviously incorrectly) that they would never become parents, so they adopted Oliver Twist Huntsman, a Smooth Fox Terrier, a fifteen pound total character and large personality who was featured in all press announcements when Dr. Huntsman accepted a partnership in medical practice with the late Dr. George C. Cheatham, Sr.; he mourned until the end of his own life following Oliver’s death in 1975.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Ann Monarch Huntsman on December 21, 2013, having united in marriage on October 31, 1959.
SURVIVORS:
2 daughters: Mary Taylor Huntsman of Somerset and Anne Huston Huntsman of Greensburg
1 sister: Deanna Huntsman Lane of Indiana
1 brother: Eric Marshall Huntsman & his companion Jan of Florida
Bonus family: Kathy Shuffett Taylor, William Lee Shuffett, Monica Shuffett, and Avery Shuffett all of Greensburg
Dr. Huntsman was also preceded in death by three sisters: Peggy Huntsman Tinsley, Bettie Carol Biggers, and Marilyn Huntsman Oakes and a host of other beloved relatives & friends.
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Graveside Service: Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 11:00amCT at Crescent Hill Cemetery in Scottsville, KY with full Military Honors conducted by the Glasgow Honor Guard
Visitation: Friday, June 8, 2023 4:00pm-8:00pmCT at Cowherd and Parrott Funeral Home
The family has asked that expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to Hosparus of Green River which can be made at the funeral home or online at hosparushealth.org.
For more information, visit www.cowherdandparrott.com or Facebook.
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