Earlene Florence Hunter

Earlene Florence Meckel Hunter, 102, of Washington, died peacefully Monday, October 16, 2023, in her home, after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Mrs. Hunter was born December 19, 1920, in Evansville, Ind., a daughter of the late Carl and Verdie Julian Meckel. A proud American, she worked during World War II for the Servel Company in Evansville, making dies for ammunition cartridges. In June 1946, she married the late Rev. Joseph L. Hunter of Lagonda, her brother, Stanley Meckel's seminary roommate. The Hunters served churches in southern Kentucky and Western Pennsylvania before retiring to Washington in 1986. In her younger days, Earlene exercised her crafty side by crocheting, quilting (often exclaiming, "just one more block, then I'll come to bed"), constructing scenery and costumes for church pageants, oil painting, and in her later years creating instruments out of household items for the Grove UP Church Kitchen Band. She delighted in performing with her fellow bandmates until her Alzheimer's interfered; one might have thought she was actually playing the instruments, not just play-acting. They performed everywhere – churches, nursing homes, even the county fair, bringing laughter with their antics. Earlene was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Robert (Evelyn) Meckel, and the Rev. Stanley (Nadine) Meckel; sister, Virginia Meckel Brandenstein; daughter-in-law, Charlene Bowles Hunter; son, Donald Hunter; grandson, Austen Hunter; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Mrs. Hunter is survived by her daughter, retired Washington High School teacher Sandra (Jim) Craig of Washington; her son, retired Navy vet David Hunter of Lakehurst, N.J.; retired North Carolina professor son-in-law, Lewis Lampiris of Pittsboro, N.C.; her grandchildren, Christopher Hunter of Quebec, Canada, Jason (Michelle) Hunter of Lakehurst, Mary Hunter of Manchester, N.J., Noel (Frank) Schmutz of Lakehurst; and her great-grandchildren, Finnegan, Isis, Zanthis, Dylan, Kirkland, Logan and Chayse Hunter, and Abigail and Onalesce Duncan; and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Dr. Jeffrey Minteer and Concordia Hospice of Washington nurses, aides and staff for the love and compassion they showed for Earlene over the seven years she was in their care. A special thanks to those who provided private duty care in the evenings and on the weekends after they had already worked all day or night: Tyler, Andrea, Becky and Bebe. You became part of our family – E's Army of Caregivers. We couldn't have done it without all of you! Memorial contributions may be made to Concordia Hospice of Washington, 10 Leet Street, Washington, PA 15301; or a charity of one's choice. Friends and relatives will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, October 20, in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 21. Interment, with her son, will follow in Upper Ten Mile Cemetery, Prosperity.