James W. Hunter

James Wendell Hunter passed peacefully at the regal age of 100 Wednesday July 5, 2023. Born December 9, 1922 as one of 9 children to Daniel Wann Hunter Jr. and Ruth Helen Hamilton, He grew up surrounded by a lot of love and a lot to do.

Like so many of His time he grew up affected by the Great Depression, traveling with His family long distances to find work, eating and staying at makeshift camps along the way where he picked up such things as appreciation for life’s simple joys and his love for plain oatmeal.

He served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He was stationed up in Canada as a weather observer where he got to experience Canadian winter storms, dog sledding and boat plane rides among other things. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Eastern States Mission. In 1957 he graduated from the state of California Sacrament State College with a Bachelor of Arts. Soon after he married Marta G. Martin (on January 25, 1960) from which union he gained a son James Hunter Jr. and his half sister Cathy Culbertson. They later divorced. At an LDS Singles Adult dance, James beat a friend in a race to ask the lovely Toby Ann Smith to a dance; 3 weeks later when said friend went to ask Toby out for a date, James had to break the hard news to friend that he and Toby were already going steady. On March 18, 1968 he sealed the deal marrying Toby in a whimsical, eloping fashion-at a random Reno LDS church building, by a random Bishop, with random basketball players found in the church building’s gym to sign as their witnesses. Their union brought about his gaining of Toby’s daughter Serena as his own. James and Toby went on to have two more daughters together, Sandra Ann and Sara.

The majority of his career life was spent working for the U.S. Government as a chemist, performing quality control on Natural fuels. He even tested the jet plane fuel for and hence got to meet President Ronald Reagan. When he wasn’t working at his profession, he worked on some of his favorite hobbies: gardening, bowling, pampering his favorite black pet rabbit, exercising, and building his relationships with his Family and God. He retired in 1991 to help care for of one of his Grand daughters.

His whole life was dedicated to his Family and God, both of whom his great love for is evidenced in everything He did. This world is such a better place because He was in it. That He will be dearly missed is a gross understatement, but His wonderful legacy lives on in the lives of His beloved sweetheart Toby, His Children, Grand children, great grand children and all of the in laws.

He is preceded in death by and now reunited with his beloved parents and siblings Daniel Wann III Hunter, Ruth Helen Hunter, Wann Hamilton Hunter, Elden Daniel Hunter, Sibyl Hunter, Melvin Hamilton Hunter, Harlo Arthur Hunter, Marceline Hunter. He is survived by his wife Toby Ann [Smith] Hunter, his children and their spouses Jim Hunter [Victoria Hunter], Serena Staley [Roger Staley], Sandra Malmrose [Earl Malmrose], Sara Fitzgerald [Russ Fitzgerald], 11 Grandkids and their spouses, 9 great grandchildren and 2 on the way.

A viewing will be held Sunday, July 16, 2023 at Valley View Funeral Home on 4335 West 4100 South, West Valley City, Utah 84120 from 6-8 pm.

In lieu of flowers, and in the true sense of his very character, James and his Family kindly request you do something nice for someone today to brighten their day.

A huge thanks to all the staff at St. Marks Hospital, AMG Senior Medical Group, Inspiration Home Health and Hospice, Legacy House Retirement Living in South Jordan Utah, Valley View Memorial Park and Funeral Home and countless other Neighbors, Friends and Angels who’ve assisted Dad and our Family along the way.

Dad, You were definitely one of the good guys; You will always be our hero. Till we meet again!

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ValleyViewFuneral.com for the Hunter family.