Rev. Joseph L. Hunter

Served as pastor to several local congregations. The Rev. Joseph Lux Hunter, 89, of Strabane Trails Village, Washington, beloved husband of Earlene Meckel Hunter, died at 1:40 a.m. Tuesday, November 15, 2005, in Donnell House Hospice Care of Washington Hospital, Washington. He was born March 19, 1916, at his parents' farm just off Prosperity Pike (Route 18) south of Washington. Mr. Hunter began his education in a one-room schoolhouse in Van Buren, entered Trinity High School at age 11, and graduated salutatorian in the class of 1931. During his high school years, he attained the state degree in Future Farmers of America and was a member of Gretna Grange, where he worked his way to 7th degree. As a youth, he was active in Bethel Presbyterian Church, where the first signs of a ministerial calling became evident. He taught a Sunday school class of junior high boys and served on the gospel team of the Christian Endeavor Society, preaching his first sermon in Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Church. In 1941, he enrolled as a pre-ministerial student at Washington & Jefferson College ('44), his father's alma mater. He majored in Greek and minored in English, graduated with honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa scholastic honorary society. He entered Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in the fall of 1943 with a special interest in rural church ministry. During his seminary studies, he taught beginning New Testament Greek and served Vernon, North Vernon and Oak Ridge Presbyterian churches in southern Indiana. He also served as a summer intern at Unity Presbyterian Church in Graysville and Harmony Presbyterian Church in Wind Ridge. He capped his seminary experience by being recognized for Best Senior Sermon. Following graduation from seminary in June 1946, he was ordained as Minister of Word and Sacrament by Washington Presbytery of Pennsyvlania. Also that month, he married Earlene Florence Meckel of Evansville, Ind., a daughter of firefighter Carl and Verdie Meckel and a sister of his seminary roommate, Stanley Meckel. In 35 years of full-time pastoral ministery, he served six pastorates: Marrowbone Presbyterian Church and Edmonton Presbyterian Church in Kentucky ('46-'50), Concord Presbyterian Church in Hooker and Pleasant Valley Presbyterian Church in West Sunbury, both in Butler County ('50-'56), West Alexander Presbyterian Church in Washington County ('56-'61) and Paris Presbyterian Church, also in Washington County ('61-'74). These pastorates yield formidable statistics that demonstrate a collective contribution to the Presbyterain denomination and to the wider Christian Church, including 139 baptisms (23 of whom were adults), 196 funerals and memorial services and 125 weddings. During this time, 477 members were received into the fellowship of these congreagtions. He also served Washington Presbytery for 17 years as stated clerk and, during his retirement, served on Presbyterian Board of Trustees. In 1974, he was invited to join the full-time staff of Presbyterian Association of Aging, where he had volunteered for many years on the board of admissions. He served residents of Oakmont Presbyterian Home and Presbyterian Home in Washington as director of admissions and chaplain. Following "retirement" in 1984, he and his wife returned to Washington County, where a new ministry as interim pastor and pulpit supply flourished. During this time, he served as interim at Third Presbyterian Church in Washington, First Presbyterian Church in Bentleyville, Taylorstown Presbyterian Church, East Buffalo Presbyterian Church, twice at Grove Presbyterian Church in West Middletown and Sunday Supply at many others throughout Washington and Greene counties. He was honored as a distinguished alumnus by Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary in February 2004. In an article published by the seminary, he was quoted as saying, "I learned long ago that each of us must live his or her life as God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, guises us and as Apostle Paul wrote, 'If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.'" Surviving are his wife, Earlene; three children, Sandra (formerly Curtis) and husband James Craig of Washington, David and wife Charlene Hunter of Lakehurst, N.J., and Donald and partner Lewis Lampiris of Chicago, Ill.; three sisters-in-law, Ruth Hunter of Washington, Virginia R. Brandenstein of Indianapolis and Evelyn Meckel of Newburgh, Ind.; four grandchildren, Christopher Hunter, Jason and wife Kristen Hunter, Mary Ellen Hunter and Noel Hunter; three great-grandchildren, Austen, Emily and Isis Hunter; and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and -nephews. Deceased are his parents, James Hutchison Hunter and Louise Doerbaum Hunter; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Carl and Verdie Meckel; a brother, Lloyd Hunter; two brothers-in-law, Robert C. Meckel and the Rev. Stanley R. Meckel; and a nephew, Paul Hunter. Visitation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington. Services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 100 East Wheeling Street, at 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 18, with the Rev. Dr. David Bleivik and numerous associates co-officiating. An opportunity will be provided during the funeral service for friends and family to share favorite memories. His final resting place will be in Prosperity Cemetery, Prosperity. Memorial contributions may be made to Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Office of Seminary Relations, 1044 Alta Vista Road, Louisville, KY 40205-1798; Hospice Care of Washington Hospital, 155 West Wilson Street, Washington, PA 15301; Washington and Jefferson College Office of Development, 60 South Lincoln Street, Washington, PA 15301; or the charity of one's choice. Friends may express their condolences online at www.NealFuneralHome.com or via mail to P.O. Box 187, Washington, PA 15301.