JOHNNY HUCKABA, Johnny Huckaba, age 75, moved to Heaven Tuesday, April 28, 2015. He had a beautiful life and was loved by many here. He was born March 23, 1940 in Franklin County, Alabama to Charlie Huckaba and Nora Montgomery Huckaba. Growing up, he attended Belgreen School and was raised on a small farm. As a young boy they traveled by wagon, had no electricity or running water in the house, but had a life he cherished. Johnny learned to play guitar sitting on the porch, with influence and help from his dad, a fiddler. As a young teen, Johnnys uncle Charlie Montgomery influenced his life, picking him up and taking him to Russellville Church of God and to cottage prayer meetings where Johnny played guitar and sang. He also attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church some in Russellville as a boy, because he could walk there. At age 16 he came to Texas to find work. He lived in Dallas and worked for a rubber company. He bought a guitar and black 1950 Ford and after nine months here had met his future wife, Virginia. He was homesick and went back to Alabama for a very brief time; but Virginia had become the love of his life so he had to come back to Dallas. He married Virginia McBride on April 22, 1959. Johnny and Virginia were married for 56 years and resided in Irving, Texas for over 50 years. Johnny was employed at a textile plant, Enterprise, Incorporated, for over 10 years; then owned and operated Huckaba Fence & Contracting for 45 years. Johnny was a member of Heritage Church, previously known at First Pentecostal Church of God in Irving for over 55 years. Over the years Johnny had served as Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent and Deacon; and sang specials and played guitar at church. In 1974 Johnny, along with two women from his church, Joyce Miles and Lynda Williams started singing as a trio. They became known as the Spiritual Sounds and started singing the gospel around the area. The group became the Huckaba Family as over time Johnnys daughter Regina became part of the trio, son Kerry began playing bass, son Brett became the drummer and daughter Shereen became part of the trio. The southern gospel group has presented the gospel in song for 41 years. Johnny was an Executive Director of the Southern Gospel Music Association of Texas, and served as an officer for many years until his death. Over the years, Johnny was honored with Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year, and named Mr. Gospel Music from Southern Gospel Music Association of Texas and fans of the Texas Gospel Music News. He wrote multiple southern gospel songs. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Betty Presley; and a brother James Huckaba. He is survived by his wife, Virginia of Irving; daughters, Regina Bestul and husband Ricky of Paris, Texas, Shereen King and husband Chris of Rockwall, Texas; sons, Kerry Huckaba and wife Teri of Hurst, Texas, Brett Huckaba and wife Samantha of Rockwall, Texas; 11 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; sisters, Mildred Kiel and husband David, Shirley Nix and husband Dale, Peggy Smith and husband Robert, all of Alabama; brothers, Delmer Huckaba of Alabama, Elmer Huckaba and wife Stella of Irving, Texas, and Ted Huckaba and wife Sherry of Alabama; many loved nephews, nieces and cousins; and a host of precious friends. Johnny had a beautiful, meaningful life here and is now having a beautiful life in Heaven. Interment will be at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas. Johnny Huckaba, age 75, moved to Heaven Tuesday, April 28, 2015. He had a beautiful life and was loved by many here. He was born March 23, 1940 in Franklin County, Alabama to Charlie Huckaba and Nora Montgomery Huckaba. Growing up, he attended Belgreen School and was raised on a small farm. As a young boy they traveled by wagon, had no electricity or running water in the house, but had a life he cherished. Johnny learned to play guitar sitting on the porch, with influence and help from his dad, a fiddler. As a young teen, Johnnys uncle Charlie Montgomery influenced his life, picking him up and taking him to Russellville Church of God and to cottage prayer meetings where Johnny played guitar and sang. He also attended Mt. Zion Baptist Church some in Russellville as a boy, because he could walk there. At age 16 he came to Texas to find work. He lived in Dallas and worked for a rubber company. He bought a guitar and black 1950 Ford and after nine months here had met his future wife, Virginia. He was homesick and went back to Alabama for a very brief time; but Virginia had become the love of his life so he had to come back to Dallas. He married Virginia McBride on April 22, 1959. Johnny and Virginia were married for 56 years and resided in Irving, Texas for over 50 years. Johnny was employed at a textile plant, Enterprise, Incorporated, for over 10 years; then owned and operated Huckaba Fence & Contracting for 45 years. Johnny was a member of Heritage Church, previously known at First Pentecostal Church of God in Irving for over 55 years. Over the years Johnny had served as Sunday School Teacher, Sunday School Superintendent and Deacon; and sang specials and played guitar at church. In 1974 Johnny, along with two women from his church, Joyce Miles and Lynda Williams started singing as a trio. They became known as the Spiritual Sounds and started singing the gospel around the area. The group became the Huckaba Family as over time Johnnys daughter Regina became part of the trio, son Kerry began playing bass, son Brett became the drummer and daughter Shereen became part of the trio. The southern gospel group has presented the gospel in song for 41 years. Johnny was an Executive Director of the Southern Gospel Music Association of Texas, and served as an officer for many years until his death. Over the years, Johnny was honored with Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year, and named Mr. Gospel Music from Southern Gospel Music Association of Texas and fans of the Texas Gospel Music News. He wrote multiple southern gospel songs. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Betty Presley; and a brother James Huckaba. He is survived by his wife, Virginia of Irving; daughters, Regina Bestul and husband Ricky of Paris, Texas, Shereen King and husband Chris of Rockwall, Texas; sons, Kerry Huckaba and wife Teri of Hurst, Texas, Brett Huckaba and wife Samantha of Rockwall, Texas; 11 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; sisters, Mildred Kiel and husband David, Shirley Nix and husband Dale, Peggy Smith and husband Robert, all of Alabama; brothers, Delmer Huckaba of Alabama, Elmer Huckaba and wife Stella of Irving, Texas, and Ted Huckaba and wife Sherry of Alabama; many loved nephews, nieces and cousins; and a host of precious friends. Johnny had a beautiful, meaningful life here and is now having a beautiful life in Heaven. Interment will be at Restland Memorial Park in Dallas.