Howard S. Red Hunt
Howard S. Red Hunt, age 89, of 644 South Gamble Street, Shelby, died Thursday, November 27, 2003, at his home after a short illness.
He was born February 17, 1914 in Mechanicsburg, Ohio the son of the late James and Nettie (Shepherd) Hunt and has been a Shelby resident since 1952. Howard was a 1932 graduate of Mechanicsburg High School where he was the captain of the football team is sophomore, junior and senior years. He lettered in football, basketball, and baseball all four years of his high school career and remained an avid sports fan his entire life. As a young man he played semi-pro baseball in Columbus; as an adult, he was a little league coach and umpire for many years.
Red began his working career in 1941 with Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio transferring to Shelby in 1952 where he was the chief base supply officer at Wilkens Air Force Depot in Shelby. He always said that his claim to fame was being the last person to turn out the lights and lock the doors for the final time when Wilkens Air Force Depot closed in 1960.
Red led an interesting and colorful life and shared his stories in his autobiography, Did You Ever? Well, I Did. Short stories from his autobiography were shared with the readers of the Daily Globe during the summer of 2001. Red had a unique ability to communicate on paper. He taught his grandson, David Stanfield, how to punt a football through instructional letters. David set many records, which still stand at Baldwin Wallace College in Berea.
His other interests were hunting, fishing, oil painting, woodworking and bowling. He was one of the top bowlers in the Shelby bowling league well into his 70’s. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Shelby.
He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, James and Susan Hunt of Vermilion, Ohio and their children: Shawna and Steve Schaub of Indianapolis, Ind. and Tyler Hunt of Elyria, Ohio. A daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Richard Stanfield of Dyersburg, Tenn. and their children: Sherry and Michael Saxon of Memphis, Tenn., David and Elizabeth Stanfield of Denver, Co., Steven and Samantha Stanfield of Dyersburg, Tenn. , 4 great grandchildren: Elizabeth Ann Stanfield, Christopher Saxon, Hunter Stanfield, Matthew Stanfield. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Geraldine M. (Brown) Hunt in 2002, a sister, Isabelle Hunt and a brother, Marion Hunt.
Calling hours will not be observed. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, November 29, 2003 at 1:00 PM at Maple Grove Cemetery in Mechanicsburg, Ohio. Memorial expressions may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. The Turner Funeral Home, 168 West Main Street, Shelby, Ohio 44875 is in charge of the funeral arrangements.