William Cloyce Huff was born in Santa Rita, New Mexico, to Alice and William Huff on September 18, 1914. After attending Stanford Medical School, Dr. Huff carried on his father’s legacy by becoming a physician. He served his internship in New Orleans, Louisiana, and eventually landed in a little beach community called Ventura in 1939 for his residency. Dr. Huff met his wife Clarabelle at the laboratory of the County Hospital where she worked as a lab tech. They were married on December 15, 1942. 

Dr. and Mrs. Huff were married shortly before he was sent over seas. He served as a United States Army Air Corp flight surgeon in England during World War II. While in England, Dr. Huff volunteered to join the U.S. Navy on the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day invasion, where he provided medical care for the wounded. 

After his return from the war in 1945, Dr. Huff and his wife built a home in Oxnard where they raised their three children, Mary Alice, Mike, and Patty. He opened his general practice office in Oxnard in 1945 and took care of whatever his patients needed, including obstetrics, surgery, and orthopedics. He joined the staff of St. John’s Regional Medical Center and Ventura County Hospital, becoming the Chief of Staff of both hospitals during his long and distinguished career. He practiced in Ventura County for over 55 years, and has the respect and love of his grateful patients.

In addition to his busy practice, Dr. Huff was published in the American Medical Journal and in 1961 he addressed the 11th Bahamas Medical Conference regarding the development of a rapid method for determining susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics. The method was conceived, developed, and evaluated by Dr. Huff, Dr. Daniel Tolmach, and Dr. Gordon Johnston, and was used for years on surgical wards throughout the United States. He also co-authored an article on the effects of pesticides on field workers with Dr. Johnston.

Dr. Huff was involved in local health care organizations for over six decades. He was president of the Ventura County Medical Society in 1954, and co-founded the Ventura County Foundation for Medical Care where he also served as president in 1972. In addition, he served on the Board of Directors of St. John’s Regional Medical Center for six years, as well as the Board of Directors of the Grey Gables Retirement Home in Ojai from 1986 to 1990. He was on the surgical staff of VCMC and St. John’s Regional Medical Center from 1945 until his retirement in 2000. He was a long time member and Board President of the Tri-County Blood Bank, and he was a founding board member of the Livingston Memorial Foundation where he served until 2015. 

Above all things, Dr. Huff valued his family. He loved to travel with his wife Clarabelle. They visited Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, Rome, Israel and France before her death in 1986. He enjoyed gardening, coffee with friends, family outings, fishing, and cooking for his family. In fact, family was the center of his world. His children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren loved him greatly and looked to him for advice on a regular basis. 

Dr. Huff spent his 100 years creating a legacy that celebrates service and education. At the end of each day he asked himself, “Who have I helped today?” He also believed that the key to a better future lies in educating the children of our community. Memorial contributions in celebration of his life may be made to Santa Clara Elementary School in Oxnard, care of Dotty Massa; St. Mary Magdalen School in Camarillo, care of Michael Ronan; or La Reina High School & Middle School in Thousand Oaks, care of Karen Starleaf.

The family wishes to thank Amanda, Annalyn, Bonnie, Christina, Elena, Heather, Jeannette, Lorena, and Maria for their loving care. 

W. Cloyce Huff, M.D has been entrusted to the care of the family owned and operated Reardon Funeral Home 511 North A St. Oxnard. www.reardonfh.com