Obituary

Richard Hunt, 92, of Charleston, West Virginia, passed away on Monday, March 4, 2024, after a brief hospital stay. He was born in Charleston, West Virginia, on September 21, 1931.

A graduate of Stonewall Jackson High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Asbury College and a master’s degree from the University of Kentucky. Richard served as a Chaplin’s Assistant in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where he was stationed in Augsburg, Germany. This led to a life-long and multi-generational relationship with the German family he lived with while stationed there.

After the war, he taught music in Kanawha County and was selected for a special fellowship at Ohio State University, where he earned a doctorate. Richard was part of the team that planned the building of George Washington High School. While at G.W., he served as vice principal upon its opening. Later, he became the inaugural principal of Andrew Jackson Junior High School, located in Cross Lanes, West Virginia, serving during the period of the Kanawha County textbook controversy.

After retiring from Kanawha County Schools, Dr. Hunt taught at WV State’s College of Graduate Studies (COGS) in the Educational Leadership program. He was also the owner/proprietor of the Whipple Company Store in Scarbro, West Virginia. Richard was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church and served as choir director for over 70 years. Wesley United Methodist Church was later absorbed into Canaan United Methodist Church.

Dr. Hunt was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Nancy Cook Hunt, and is survived by two children: his son, Richard Webster Hunt, wife Lynn Hunt, and grandchild, Levi Hunt, all of Charleston, West Virginia; and Leslie Hunt, husband Brent Parker, and grandchild Phoenix Hunt, all of New York.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Canaan United Methodist Church food and clothing banks.

Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 9, 2024, at Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, 1118 Virginia Street East, Charleston, West Virginia, with Pastor Carl Terrell, Sr., officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans, West Virginia.

Visitation will begin one hour prior at the funeral home.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com .

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.