Ralph John Hunter

Member of Grove U.P. Church was Haddad and Brooks retiree. Ralph John Hunter, 98, of Washington, died at 11:42 a.m. Sunday, August 15, 2004, in Kade Nursing Home, following a two-year illness. He was born May 17, 1906, in West Finley Township, Washington County, a son of John Hanna and Rebecca Winters Hunter. Mr. Hunter was a member of Grove United Presbyterian Church of West Middletown, where he was an elder for 66 years. He attended Penn State College and had been a farmer. He also drilled and leased oil and gas wells. He retired from Haddad and Brooks in 1984. Mr. Hunter was a member of Sunset Lodge 623 F&AM, Valley of Pittsburgh Consistory, and was a past master of Independence Grange. He was a life member of State Grange and was a member of Pomona and National Grange. He sang bass in several male quartets, mixed quartets, barbershop chorus, high county chorus and church choir. In 1929, Mr. Hunter placed first in a dairy-judging team in Ohio County, W.Va., and went on to Milwaukee, Wis.., where he judged cattle, was first in judging Guernsey cattle and received a gold medal. He also showed cattle and sheep at Washington County Fairs. On May 29, 1937, he married Eleanor Louise North, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Duane Hunter of Mechanicsville, Va.; two daughters, Angela Hunter of Avella and Elizabeth Shultz of Salem, Wis..; and five grandchildren, Vicki Lis, Heidi and Randall Shultz, and Heather and Dustin Hunter. Deceased are two brothers, Robert and Garrett Hunter; and four sisters, Lillian Sampson, Eudora Hunter, Gladys Gittings and Margaret Pollock. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 18, with Pastor Gary Gibson officiating. Interment follows in West Alexander Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions to Grove U.P. Church, West Middletown.