Robert Gene Hunter

Gene, as he was known, suffered a heart attack July 11 and did not regain consciousness before his death.

Gene was born April 29, 1954, in Rose Hill, N.C. to Robert Reynolds Hunter and Anna Allene Jones Hunter. He graduated from Wallace-Rose Hill High School in 1972 and joined the U.S. Army to serve as an infantryman the same year.

During his 23-year U.S. Army career, Gene served in Airborne Infantry units at duty stations in Germany, Alaska, Honduras and the continental United States, retiring at the rank of Master Sergeant.

Following his retirement from the Army, Gene continued to serve, teaching Junior ROTC at Hayfield High School in Springfield, VA. After completing his computer science degree, Gene continued to support Hayfield High School in Fairfax County, VA, as the lead Information Technology Specialist.

In 2017, Gene retired from Fairfax County Schools, at which time he and his wife, Amy Sharp Hunter, started the next chapter of their lives in Southport, N.C.

Gene was an accomplished ballroom dancer who enjoyed traveling and experiencing the ambiance of the Wilmington and Southport areas with Amy, family and friends. He and Amy continued to take dance classes to improve his craft and participate in recitals.

He was known and beloved for his positive, can-do attitude and for always taking care of and assisting family and friends.

Gene is survived by his wife Amy Hunter: his children, Robert (Allen) Hunter, Rachel Hunter Emrath, and Sarah Hunter Hastings; his grandchildren, Archer, Arwen, Georgia, Lillie Mae, Lydia, Mallory, Silas, and Willow; his brother, Thomas S. Hunter and Thomas’s wife, Lisa Corp Hunter; and his sister, Linda Susan Hunter.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Wanda Joyce Hunter and Cheryl Ann Hunter; and his brother, Danny Lee Hunter.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Bolduc’s Animal Rescue via their Facebook page or another animal charity, in honor of Gene’s love of animals.

A service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 26, 2025 in the Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral Home Chapel.

Online condolences may be made at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com

Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, North Carolina.