Clarence Leonard Hurt

Upon graduating from Beaver High School, class of ’45, he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II. Following the war, he completed his training at Officers Finance School, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, then transferred to 2nd Army HQ in Fort Meade, Maryland, where he served another year before being honorably discharged. He began his college education at Bluefield College, while working part-time.

Clarence met Sherry E. Davis in Winter Park on July 2, 1962, and they were married on July 12, 1965. He continued his education at Rollins College in Winter Park, receiving a masters of Commercial Science degree while working in the Treasury department of the Martin Company (later, Martin Marietta & Lockheed Martin) in Orlando.

In 1968, Clarence accepted a position with Presbyterian Hospital (later Presbyterian Health Services) in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he worked for more than twenty years before retiring as Senior Vice President of Finance from both institutions. He concurrently completed post-graduate work in Hospital Administration at Duke University and was a member of the American College of Hospital Administrators, the International Accountants Society, and the Hospital Financial Management Society where he received the Fulmer Award in Hospital Financial Management.

After his retirement, Clarence and Sherry returned to Florida where he worked as a part-time real estate broker in the Orlando area and served as Council Chairman for Christ Community Church, Orlando. He served as board member and National Director for the local chapter of the Central Florida Railway Historical Society and regularly volunteered at the railway museum in Winter Garden.

Chief among his hobbies was woodworking. He built a number of home furnishings using hand and power tools – an interest kindled while helping to build homes for several members of his own family early in his adult life.

Clarence is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sherry; son, Chris Hurt and his wife Susannah of Montverde; daughter, Shannon Green and husband, Gary of Beaufort, South Carolina; grandchildren, Thomas and Elisabeth Hurt; Tyler and Connor Green. Clarence was pre-deceased by his mother Bessie Beverly Hurt and his father, Stephen Worley Hurt of Bluefield, West Virginia; his brother, Leonard Worley Hurt of Newport News, Virginia; and his sister, Madeline Zuelia Ealy of Smithfield, Virginia.

Memorial service will be conducted on Thursday, January 30th at 2pm at Oakland Presbyterian Church, 218 W. Oakland Avenue, Oakland, FL 34760.

The family wishes to thank the hospital staff of Advent Health, Winter Garden for their exceptional care and compassion for Clarence in his final days.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Central Florida Railroad Museum (www.cfrhs.org) or Oakland Presbyterian Church in Oakland, Florida (www.oaklandpres.org)