Frank Huger, 76, of Crozet, died Wednesday, Nov. 8, after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s.

A native of Lexington, Frank was the son of the late Ben and Penny Huger and a graduate of the 1969 class at VMI.

He is survived by Georgia Huger, his wife of 54 years, sister Tucker McQueen, brother-in-law Don McQueen, sisters-and brothers-in-law, Mary Ann and Chip Buxton, Alice and Angus Murdoch, uncle and aunt, Randy and Betsy Pendleton, and nine nieces and nephews.

After graduating from VMI, Frank served in Vietnam where he received two Bronze Stars with valor device, oak leaf cluster for both heroism awards. He received the Air Medal, Army Commendation and National Defense Service medals, Vietnam Service Award, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and Vietnam Campaign Medal. Also: Combat infantryman badge, parachute badge, Special Forces Tab and expert rifleman badge. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves, retiring as captain in 1978.

After serving his country, Frank’s interests turned to pharmacology and neuroscience. He earned a doctorate in pharmacology at the Medical College of Virginia in 1978 and an MBA in pharmaceutical/chemical management from Farleigh Dickinson University in 1992. He worked in the pharmaceutical and neuroscience fields for 30 years until he retired in 2008.

While he worked at Hoechst-Roussel Pharmaceuticals in New Jersey, he was a team leader for all cholinergic projects in the Alzheimer’s Disease Program. He was particularly interested in the development of drugs for the disease that claimed his father in 1988 and has now taken his life.

Frank’s interests were wide. In 1984, the Japan Karate Association recognized him for earning the Karate Do Rank of 3b Kyu. After retiring, he was an emergency medical technician (EMT) with the New Jersey Office of Emergency Medical Services.

Frank enjoyed days off riding the back roads on his Harley Davidson motorcycle, raising terriers and Airedales, tinkering in his workshop and travels with his beloved Georgia.

He and Georgia moved to Virginia in 2010 after building their dream home with a perfect view of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

A memorial gathering to celebrate Frank’s life will be held in the spring.