Dr. David C. Hurst

Dr. David C. Hurst, 85, of Vestavia Hills, died peacefully Wednesday Oct. 2, 2013. The memorial service at Ridout's Valley Chapel in Homewood begins at 11am on Oct. 4, 2013. A reception will follow after the service in the Edgewood Parlor.

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, David Hurst was born in Bozeman, Montana. A graduate of Montana State University, he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He received a PhD in statistics from North Carolina State University.

He was an Associate Professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University from 1957-1965.

In 1965 he continued his career at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He founded the Department of Biostatistics, and earned the rank of full professor. As Chairman of the Department, he guided and influenced generations of national and international students to excel in their fields. His research touched on a wide variety of medical cases from Sickle Cell Anemia to Cancer. He retired in 1996 as Professor Emeritus.

Dr. Hurst served as consultant to the National Institute of Health (NIH) and Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Al. He traveled extensively in Europe, North America, South America, the Far East, and Middle East.

He was a member of Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church and the Sanctuary Choir for over forty years. He was survived by his beloved wife, Elsbe' Van Dam Hurst, his two children Mary Howard (Mark) and Sandra Eggleston (Edward), his four grandchildren Mark Howard Jr., David Howard, Keith Eggleston, and Heather Eggleston; and two great grand children, Audrina and Jazmine Howard. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations for the Organ fund at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church or your favorite charity.

Online condolences may be made at www.ridoutsvalleychapel.com.