GEORGE HUNT

George C. Hunt, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, July 16, 2001, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born Nov. 26, 1913, at Delta, Mo., son of John Curtis and Rhoda E. Barker Hunt. He and Frieda Allen were married July 9, 1943, in Blytheville, Ark. She died Feb. 25, 1994.

George retired as an operator at Missouri Utilities Power Plant. He had also owned George Hunt Nursery.

He was a member of First Assembly of God Church, past master of St. Mark's Masonic Lodge 93, York Rite Masons, Royal Arch Masons Cape Council, commander of Cape Girardeau Commandery 55, Knights Temple, past high priest of Wilson Chapter 75, Royal Arch Masons, illustrious master of Cape Council 20, Royal and Select Masters, 32nd Degree member of Scottish Rite Masons, Capaha Scottish Rite Club, Moolah Shrine Temple of St. Louis, Cape Shrine Club, St. Mark's Chapter 167 of Eastern Star, Amaranth Council 14, White Calvary Shrine 8, and Olen S. McDaniel Allied Masonic Degrees.

George was a life member of Clippard-Wilson-Taylor VFW Post 3838, member of VFW Post 3838 Honor Guard 20 years, life member of National Veterans of Battle of the Bulge, life member of American Legion Post 63, and life member of St. Louis Gateway Chapter of Battle of the Bulge.

He served in the U.S. Army from Dec. 16, 1942, to Oct. 30, 1945. He was a World War II D-day veteran and participated in the first wave at Omaha Beach. He was a half-track driver during World War II. He was a member of the First Army 197th AAA Automatic Weapons Specialist Battery A, and was awarded five Bronze Stars.

Survivors include a daughter, Marcia Earl of Colgate, Wis.; a brother, Herschel Hunt of Scott City, Mo.; a sister, Genevieve Watson of Cape Girardeau; two grandsons, Timothy Finley of Milwaukee, Wis., and Joshua Earl of Colgate.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a son-in-law, two brothers, and two sisters.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Funeral Home from 4-8 p.m. Friday. A Masonic service will be held at 7:30.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. The Rev. Charles Lance will officiate. Burial will be in Lorimier Cemetery, with full military graveside rites.

Memorial contributions may be made to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., or Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children.