Carl Vance Hunt Jr. ’63

Carl Vance Hunt Jr., 74, of Asheboro died Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, at Randolph Hospital. Mr. Hunt was born July 27, 1941, in Guilford County to Carl and Mary Hall Hunt. Carl grew up in Winston-Salem, N.C., at the Children’s Home and distinguished himself as a star athlete in baseball, basketball and football as well as excelling in the classroom.

Carl was elected to the 1958 Shrine Bowl Team for North Carolina and earned a football athletic scholarship to play at Davidson College as a fullback and linebacker. Carl played in one of the biggest wins in Davidson School history beating Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now Virginia Tech) 9-7 on Nov. 5, 1960, in the game tabbed as “David vs Goliath.”

After college, Carl joined the Army and retired as Lt. Colonel having served with the 1st Calvary Division (First Team), 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles) and A Company 158th Aviation Battalion (Ghost Riders). Carl was an artillery officer and paratrooper with more than 400 jumps overall. He served three tours of duty in Vietnam where he started as a Forward Observer in Infantry and later became a skilled helicopter pilot.

As a helicopter pilot, his call sign was “Ghost Rider” and was known to his troops as “Darth Vader.” Carl received multiple commendations, including Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor, Vietnam Service Medal with 4 Bronze Stars, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Valor, Air Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 DVC, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (multiple), Purple Heart.

After leaving the military with 20+ years of service, he served as Executive Director of the Kernersville and Asheboro Chamber of Commerce. He was a smart man who was very tough both mentally and physically. Carl was a loving husband, father and grandfather who was known as “Jop” to his family and “Joppy” to his grandchildren.

Carl was an active member of the Central Carolina Community Church (C4), where he served on the Council.Carl truly made a positive impact on everyone’s life that he touched. Carl’s relationship with Jesus Christ had become very strong, as he had accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior. The entire C4 community will miss him.

Carl and his wife, Tressie, enjoyed traveling and were most happy taking their RV all over the country to meet new friends and visit family. They made regular trips to Oklahoma, Texas, Florida and South Carolina. Carl particularly enjoyed having the family down to Myrtle Beach, S.C., every summer and getting to watch everyone relax and have a good time.

He is survived by his wife, Tressie McGuffin Hunt; children, Laura Ritter of St. Cloud, Fla., Gayelyn Phillips and husband Travis of Asheboro, Andrew Hunt of Orlando, Fla., Buddy Britt and wife Cassandra of Asheboro, Carla Dougherty and husband Kevin of Durham and Lee Hunt and his significant other Andrea Stewart of Lexington; grandchildren, Leah Reysen, Dusten Ritter and fiancé Taylor, Chase Ritter, Kayla Hunt, Tyler Hunt, Jeffrey Brigman and wife Julie, Cameron Pickel, Will Britt, Wesley Britt, Helen Britt, Lucy Britt, Griffin Dougherty, Bridget Dougherty, Connor Dougherty, Brendan Carl Dougherty and Wesley Stewart; and great-grandchildren, Taylor Wade, Teely Brigman, Ethan Reysen and Jaxon Reysen.

The family will receive friends Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, from 1-2:45 p.m. at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Ave., Asheboro. Funeral services will follow at 3 p.m. in the Pugh Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Edward J. Arroyo officiating.

Burial with military honors will be in New Hope Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Foundation, 2115 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101.

Please share remembrances and condolences at www.pugh funeralhome.com.