Ralph Walter Hunter | Visitation:
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
10:00 AM until 1:00 PM
Ready Funeral and Cremation Service
Mt. View Chapel
68 Pinecrest Drive
Essex Junction, VT
Service:
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
1:00 PM
Ready Funeral and Cremation Service
Mt. View Chapel
68 Pinecrest Drive
Essex Jucntion, VT
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| | | Ralph Walter Hunter, age 83, passed away on Friday, September 5, 2008 surrounded by his loving family following a summer long battle to overcome heart and kidney failure.
Ralph, known as Sonny to his closest family and friends, was the first of his family to be born in a hospital in Burlington on February 4, 1925, the youngest son of Walter and Helena Hunter. He graduated as the valedictorian in the class of 1942 from Hinesburg High School. In spite of a full scholarship to UVM, he joined the army and became one of the 101st Airborne "Screaming Eagles". Upon his return to the US, he was reassigned to the 82'd Airborne with whom he marched in New York City when the war ended on Victory Day. When he returned to the state he loved, he served as Master Sergeant of the 131st Engineers in the National Guard.
He was married to Bessie Mae Bushey on February 9th, 1945 in Hinesburg. Together they nurtured a family and developed businesses and friends. He owned and managed the Mobil Station at the Five Corners in Essex Junction through the 1960's; and the Pearl St. Sunoco from 1969 until his retirement in 1986. Ralph was proud of his involvement in the Gasoline Dealers Association during the turbulent times of the 70's and was very active in making small business owners' voices heard.
Ralph was always an enthusiastic outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman. He instilled in all he met, especially his children and grandchildren, a deep awareness and appreciation of nature. He and his wife enjoyed all of the wonders of Lake Champlain and the mountains, as they hosted celebrations at both their lake and mountain properties. In the early years of his retirement, he and Bessie spent many hours fishing on the Willoughby River. He was one of the fundamental organizers of a cooperative project between the Orleans Rod & Gun Club and the State of VT to restock the Willoughby by means of a hatchery in his town of Essex.
Ralph leaves the love of his life, Bessie; and his three children and their spouses, Gary & Shirley Hunter of NC; Debra & Stephen Nickerson of Jericho; Dodi & Doug Gomez of Cambridge. He was so proud of his six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Grandsons- Mark (& Laurie) Hunter of N.J., Scott and Paul Nickerson, Hunter and Dalton Gomez; and Granddaughter, Sandy (& Brian) Labell of Hinesburg; Great-grandsons Ryan Hunter and Garrett Labell. He was a very loving husband and father who will be dearly missed.
Visiting hours will be on Tuesday, September 9th from 10:00am until 1:00pm p.m. with a funeral service to follow at 1:00pm in the Ready Funeral Home Mountain View Chapel, 68 Pinecrest Drive, Essex Junction. Interment will be on Wednesday, September 10th at 1:00 p.m. at the Fort Ethan Allen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Ralph's name to the Orleans County Rod and Gun Club, PO Box 203, Orleans, VT 05860. Special thanks to all the caring and loving professionals at Fletcher Allen Health Care and Green Mountain Nursing Home. To send online condolences to the family please visit www.readyfuneral.com.
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