Robert Hunter

ANNA, Ill. — Robert Eugene "Bob" Hunter, 83, of Anna died Saturday, May 10, 2008, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Feb. 19, 1925, in Carterville, Ill., son of Melvin J. and Sadie Belle Proctor Hunter. He and Ruby Jeanette Miller were married Nov. 10, 1946, in Anna.

Hunter worked 38 years with Illinois Central Railroad, where he was an agent and telegrapher, and then a dispatcher with the St. Louis Division, retiring in 1987. He was a member of Anna First Baptist Church and lifetime member of Anna Masonic Lodge 520 AF&AM.

He served in the U.S. Navy as an armed guard. He was a gunner aboard the Cape Georgia Merchant Marine Ship. He received a Purple Heart for injuries sustained when his ship was attacked in the Marshall Islands.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Stanley Hunter of Cobden, Ill., Timothy Hunter of Cape Girardeau; a daughter, Brenda Garver of Murphysboro, Ill.; two brothers, Melvin Hunter of Anaheim, Calif., and Ernest Hunter of Klamath Falls, Ore.

He was preceded in death by three brothers.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Anna. Masonic service will be at 7.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Tony Foeller officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery with full military honors conducted by Carroll P. Foster VFW Post 3455.