Edward Everhart Hunt

EDWARD EVERHART HUNT, USAF Ret., AFSN 2445A, age 93 of Gatlinburg, TN, passed away Monday, January 22, 2001 at Sevier County Heath Care Center. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Gatlinburg and a former member of the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, Knoxville, TN. He was a former Commander of the Gatlinburg American Legion, a sponsor of the Junior Achievement Organization, a member of the VFW and Gatlinburg Kiwanis Club and a former Scoutmaster of the Boy Scouts of America. An avid mountain hiker, Ed also loved the military service where he served with distinction for 20 years in the Air Force and 14 years in the Infantry and National Guard before Pearl Harbor and during WWII and the Korean Conflict. He joined the Boy Scouts in 1919 and served as Patrol Leader and Assistant Scoutmaster under the tutelage of Walter L. Bryant, Scoutmaster. Together, in 1929 they explored a wilderness trail in Canada and paddled a canoe from Canada to Knoxville down the various rivers. In 1930 he purchased a WWI OX-5 Jenny airplane for $75, flew it for one hour and crashed. His distinguished military career began as a ROTC Cadet in Knoxville High School before he graduated in 1926 as a First Lieutenant. He also was a track star. While he attended the University of Tennessee for 2-1/2 years, he became a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry Reserves with the 117th and 30th Infantry. He was an expert rifleman and won several matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. In 1929 following his appointment as a Flying Cadet at March Field, CA, he enlisted in the 106th Observation Squadron. In 1931 he moved to Gatlinburg, TN to establish a photography business, as well as joining the survey crew with the U. S. Bureau of Public Roads in developing the roads to Clingman’s Dome and Elkmont. In 1935 he was assigned as a First Lieutenant Inf. Res. to the 1458th CCC Company, Sugarlands, Gatlinburg. In 1936 he enrolled in the Boeing School of Aeronautics at Alameda, CA and continued as a Second Lieutenant Inf. Res. and also a Scoutmaster of the Boy Scouts. He was now an Eagle Scout of Troop 82, Bruno, CA. In 1941 he was assigned to the U.S. Army Air Corps, McClelland Field, Sacramento, CA and promoted to Captain as Squadron Commander, Operations & Training, Materials Division Chief. In 1942 he was assigned to SAD, 2nd Strategic Air Depot of the 8th Service Command, England and promoted to Lt. Colonel. In 1945 he was assigned to Oklahoma City, OK as Director of Materials, Supply Division. In 1947 he was assigned to the USAF Training Section at New York University where he also received his BS and Master Degrees, Master of Public Admin. In 1949 he as assigned to the Congressional Liaison, reassigned to Air Force Section National Guard Bureau, Army Language School, Monterey, CA. In 1952 he was transferred to London, England thence to MAD, HQUSEUCOM, Frankfurt, Germany and assigned to the secret project to arm Germany under EDC. He was promoted to permanent rank of Colonel, and took charge of Advance Planning Group and moved to US HICOG, Germany. In 1954, he was assigned to the European Defense Community where he received the “Pin of Eagles” and. a secret “APG” with MAAG (Military Assistance Advisory Group Germany). He was awarded the WWII, ETO, BRONZE STAR, FRENCH CROIX de GUERRE, and THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL, as well as many other honors. In 1956 he was assigned to the Memphis Air Depot Supply Division, Air Material Command Chief of Supply. In 1960 he retired as Colonel and was named Dean of Men at Iowa Wesleyan College. In 1963 he became the Program Director of Junior Achievement in Memphis, TN. In 1966 he became the Assistant Dean, College of Business, Memphis State University. Ed Hunt was a very remarkable man of many talents; printer, photographer, hiker in the mountains he loved, nature lover, American Legion member, computer expert, gardener, home builder, carpenter, electrician, plumber and at the age of 93 became the oldest living WWII survivor in Sevier County. He was also the oldest surviving recipient of the Coveted Boy Scout award of “EAGLE”. He has indeed served God and man very well! HIS MOTTO WAS WHATEVER YOU DO, DO IT WELL, WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT. HIS LOVE WAS WITH GOD, FAMILY, FRIENDS, RELATIVES, THE BOY SCOUTS, THE MOUNTAINS AND THE MILITARY. MAY THE LORD SMILE ON YOU SIR EDWARD, AND REST IN PEACE. He was preceded in death by parents, Chester and Edna Hunt; brother and sister-in-law, James L. and Louise Hunt and brother, Robert T. Hunt, all of Knoville, TN. Survivors: Wife of 67 years: Kathryn Macheras Hunt of Gatlinburg Son and Daughter-In-Law: Walter Edward and Janet Rhea Hunt of Albuquerque, NM. Daughters: Edna Ruth Ossa of Casper, WY. Mary Louise Hunt of Gatlinburg Daughter-In-Law: Sue Nelson of Sedona, AZ Brother and Sister-In-Law: William D. and Peggy Hunt of Knoxville Sister-In-Law: Virginia Hunt of Knoxville Grandchildren: Geoffrey Hunt of AZ Curtis V. Owen of Waterville, TN Charles Owen of Memphis, TN Edward Owen of Gatlinburg James Owen of Sylva, TN Tom Ossa of Casper, WY. Julia Ossa Rosenberger of Casper, WY. Great Grandchildren: Cassie and T. J. Ossa of Casper, WY. Alisha Kathryn Johnson of AZ Jacob E. Owen of Gatlinburg. Brother: Bill Hunt Funeral Service 7:00 PM Thursday in the West Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home with Rev. Larry Dial officiating. Interment with full military honors 2:00 PM Friday in Greenwood Cemetery, Knoxville. The family will receive friends 5-7 PM Thursday at Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Alzheimers Association, East Tennessee Chapter—600 Henley Street, Suite 50—Knoxville, Tennessee 37920.