Robert Earl Hunter

Robert Earl "Chief" Hunter, age 80, of Columbus, MS, passed away April 2, 2014,

at his residence. Funeral services will be Saturday, April 5, 2014, at 2:00 PM at Gunter & Peel Funeral Home with Rev. Shelby Hazard

officiating. Visitation will be Saturday, April 5, 2014, from 1:00 until 2:00 PM at Gunter & Peel Funeral Home. A graveside committal service will be held Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at 1:00 PM at East Lyme Cemetery in East

Lyme, CT, with full military honors and Rev. Alan Scott officiating. Byles - MacDougal Funeral Service of New London, CT, will be in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Hunter was born December 20, 1933, in Hartford, CT, and was a graduate of New London High School.
He was a veteran of Vietnam and Korea and was retired from the United States Air Force. Mr. Hunter was Chief of Security

for Mississippi University for Women for over 21 years. He started the diving program at MUW where he was a scuba diving instructor and also taught skin diving for the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science.

Mr. Hunter was active with the Red Cross and was recognized for his service by the Pilot Club. He was the Red Cross Volunteer of the Year in 2006 and the Andy Morris Volunteer of the Year in 2008. Mr. Hunter was a member of

the Columbus Shrine Club where he was president in 1994 and was preceded in death by his son, Robert Earl Hunter, Jr.

Survivors include his wife, Joan DeWolf Hunter , daughter, Tamara Lee Hunter, and grandchildren, Hunter Waggoner and Shields Herron, all of Columbus, MS.

Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 3100 Samford Ave., Shreveport, LA, 71103.