Wayne was born in Jellico, TN on May 18, 1940. He and his family moved to Knoxville after World War II where he attended East High School, graduating as Valedictorian in 1958. He attended the University of Tennessee, graduating in 1963 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He joined Milliken & Co. upon graduation, retiring as division President in 2003 after 40 years with the company.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Evelyn Hunter and his sister, Sally Hunter Thompson.
He is survived by Sylvia (Adams) Hunter, his loving wife of 58 years, three children: Noel Hunter of Decatur, Georgia, Kristi and Patrick Rice of Anderson, South Carolina, and Adam and Amy Hunter of Decatur, Georgia: four grandchildren, Anna Bradley Rice, Patrick Hunter Rice, Wesley Adam Hunter and Charles Harrison Hunter.
Wayne was active in First Baptist Church on the Square serving as a longtime deacon and a member of the Builders Sunday School Class. Additionally, Wayne was active in the community through membership on the Board of Trustees for LaGrange College for 15 years, where he was the recipient of the Fuller E. Callaway Award for Lifetime Service to the College. He also served on The Board of Directors for the West Georgia Health Foundation and the West Georgia Red Cross. He chaired the United Way Fundraising Campaign in 1996 and was a member of the Lions Club of LaGrange.
Wayne was an enthusiastic outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing. He was an avid golfer and competitor playing with the “Sweet Sixteen” group at Highland Country Club. He was very proud of the three holes-in-one he made over his lifetime.
Wayne will best be remembered by those who knew him as a “man of faith, humility and kindness. A man of wisdom, who represented all that is good in life and who treated everyone with immense respect and in a caring way. His life was a great example of honesty, integrity and always trying to do the right thing in the right way.”
The family will gather at Shadowlawn Cemetery for a private interment. A receiving of friends and family will be held on Saturday June 26, 2021 at First Baptist Church on the Square beginning at 10:00 AM, followed by a Celebration of Life service at 11:30 AM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests those wishing to honor Wayne, please make a donation to any of the following organizations:
• LaGrange College Scholarship Fund
601 Broad Street
LaGrange, Georgia 30240
• West Georgia Hospice
In Memory of E. Wayne Hunter
1510 Vernon Road
LaGrange, GA 30240
• Emory Healthcare Integrated Memory Care Clinic
Emory University (In memory of E. Wayne Hunter)
Office of Gift Accounting
1762 Clifton Road, Suite 1400
Atlanta, Ga 30322
The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to Poplar Creek Senior Care, Georgia Living Senior Care, and a special THANK YOU to Ms. Jean Sivell, whose care, compassion, and understanding enriched Wayne’s last year.
Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.
Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, GA
