Hunt was born in Pinehurst on Oct. 13, 1933 to George W. Hunt and Agnes McDonald Hunt. He graduated from Pinehurst High School in 1951, then studied radio and television electronics at the Coyne Technical Institute in Chicago. During the Korean War, Hunt enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and trained as a radar technician at Lowery Air Force Base in Colorado. Following his training, he was stationed at Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina.
Hunt began working as an electronics technician at Hughes Aircraft Company in Culver City, Calif., in 1957. Over the next 31 years he progressed in the company, retiring in 1988 as a laboratory manager. He worked on groundbreaking radar systems for numerous aircraft, including the Surveyor, the first spacecraft to achieve soft landing on an extraterrestrial body, as well as the F101 and F102 fighter jets.
After retiring from Hughes, Hunt moved back to Moore County, where he served as the county’s veterans service officer, helping hundreds of veterans access their benefits. He also served as president and legislative affairs representative for the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers. He helped spearhead the effort to create a veterans’ memorial in Carthage, N.C. and served on the Agent Orange Task Force established by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Hunt lived in Moore County until March, when he moved to Wake County to be closer to his children and grandchildren. He is predeceased by his wife, Shirley Berkompas Hunt; his daughter, Rebecca Suzanne Hunt; and his son-in-law, Bradley Louis Crawford. He is survived by his children, Stephen Hunt (Luanne) of Apple Valley, California; David Hunt of Holly Springs, N.C. and Debbie Crawford of Holly Springs, N.C.; his grandchildren, Amanda Griffies (Chris) of Cary, N.C. and Scott Crawford of Holly Springs, N.C.; and his siblings, Robert Hunt (Claudia) of Carthage, N.C. and Margaret Brewer (Tommy) of Aberdeen, N.C.; as well as a large, extended family throughout the Sandhills.
Services pending.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or the charity of your choice.
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