Rudolph Odell Hunt, Sr.

Mr. Rudolph O. Hunt, Sr. was born 21 April 1921 in Chowan County, North Carolina to the late Abraham and Emma Holley Hunt. The family served and received Christian training at Greater Welch’s Chapel Baptist Church in Tyner, North Carolina. Formal education (Chowan County Elementary School, and Kellogg School) was many times disrupted to help with farming. Rudolph was drafted to serve in the U. S. Army during World War II and was honorably discharged after the end of the war. Upon his return from serving our country, he relocated to Portsmouth, Virginia to start a new life with his bride and family. On 17 June 1943, Mr. Hunt married Erma L. Boothe and from that union there are four (4) adult children. Rudolph retired after 38 years as Rigger Journeyman from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. In his early years, in addition to working at the shipyard, he also worked at a dry cleaner and as a taxi driver. Rudolph was a member of the historic Third Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Virginia since the 1950s; in his active years having served faithfully in the Male Ushers Ministry. He is widowed 32 years from the loss of his late wife and mother of his children, Erma Boothe Hunt after 48 years of marriage. He leaves to mourn his passing four (4) children: Mary Hunt Leonard, Rudolph Hunt, Jr. (Kim), Christopher Hunt, Sr. and Toni Hunt Lawrence (George); seven grandchildren – Carl Leonard, Jr., Patricia Tinsley (Rodney), Kimberly Hunt, Christopher Hunt, Jr. (Regina), Lauren Hunt-Bell (Brandon), Whitney Hunt and Crystal Hunt and seven (7) great-grandchildren – Evann, Arianna, Naelyn, Jeremiah, Madison, Christopher and Chloe, one sister-in-law, Hazel W. Hunt and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Rudolph has always been a hard worker and determined in every endeavor (whether professional or personal), kept busy but loved to have fun, and was always helping others. Our perspective of his lessons for life is keeping things simple and always living beneath his means. He was fortunate to drive until the age of 99; at the same time becoming the sole survivor of his parents and family of eight (8) children and lived to be the oldest age of anyone in his family. In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by his siblings Anna Hunt Chavis (Carl), John Henry Hunt (Pearl), James Edward Hunt (Emma), George Alexander Hunt (Martha), Bessie Hunt Manning, William L. Hunt and Abraham Lloyd Hunt

Rudolph Odell Hunt, Sr.

April 21, 1921 - June 20, 2024