Charles Edward Hunter, Jr, MD

Charles Edward Hunter, Jr., MD, of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina died Monday, September 19, 2016, in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at New Hanover Regional Medical Center surrounded by his family.  

Charlie was born in Bessemer, Alabama on February 7, 1949 to Charles Edward Hunter, Sr. (deceased) and Nell Taylor Hunter. 

He is survived by his son John Taylor Hunter; stepdaughter Melynda Andrews Miller (Henry Eugene Miller III); stepson William Lee Andrews IV; grandsons Henry Eugene Miller IV and McNeil Andrews Miller; mother Nell Taylor Hunter, and sister Susette Nell Hunter.  

Dr. Hunter attended Washington and Lee University and later graduated from the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama Medical School.  He did a General Surgery Residency at Vanderbilt University and completed his Thoracic Surgery Residency at New York University.  He was a staff surgeon at NY University Bellevue Hospital and the Manhattan VA.  He was Board Certified in General and Thoracic Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgery and the American College of Cardiology, and a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgery.  He authored several academic journal articles. 

In 1987, he moved to Wilmington, NC to start the Heart Surgery program at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.  He was the first surgeon in Wilmington to do Open Heart Surgery, including Coronary Bypass and Valve Replacement Surgery, as well as the first person to use Cardiopulmonary Bypass during surgery. During his first year in Wilmington, he was the only Cardiovascular surgeon available and consequently performed 212 Cardiac procedures over the course of that year. Dr. Hunter was also responsible for starting the Cardiovascular Operating Room and the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, a nationally recognized Cardiac Care Unit. He retired in 2006. 

In his free time, Charlie enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, spending time with his dog, Lucy, and of course causing mischief. 

A Memorial service will be held at 4pm Sunday, September 25, 2016, at First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington.  The family will receive friends and family in the Sanctuary immediately following the service. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cameron Art Museum, 3201 S. 17th Street, Wilmington, NC 28412, or a charity of your choice.