TUPELO – Lauchlin Smartt Hunter, 98, known as “”Lock”” to family and friends, crossed the great beyond on Thursday, March 2, 2017, after a long, happy, and colorful life. Lock was born in Alexander City, Alabama, on December 11, 1918, the son of Lauchlin Smith Hunter and Estelle Smartt Hunter.
Lock graduated from Davidson College in l940, where he was a star athlete. His activities included the cheering squad, serving as head cheerleader his senior year. Additionally, he was a valuable member of the tennis team, co-captain his senior year and ranked 10th in the Southern Conference. He was a proud member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.
Lock, a patriotic American, was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran and served on the USS Rochambeau, where he made nine crossings of the Pacific. After the war, he returned to Alexander City where he worked for Hunter Hardware, Sherwin Williams and Mobile Paint Manufacturing Company. Lock retired after many years as a manufacturer’s representative for Mobile Paint Manufacturing Company.
He and his wife, Charlotte, moved to Vero Beach, Florida, where he enjoyed playing tennis for 37 years. He moved to Tupelo about 3 years ago to be near his daughter, Helen Boerner. Lock was joyous, optimistic, adventurous and genteel. He had the unique talent of making everyone feel special, particularly his lady friends, with his signature, “Hi, dahhhlin’!”. He will be missed.
Private family burial will take place in the family plot in Alexander City Cemetery in his hometown. There will be no local services. Holland Funeral Directors, Tupelo Chapel, is assisting the family. Condolences may be emailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net.
Lock is survived by his son, Lock Hunter of Alexander City, Alabama; his daughters, Suzanne Rey (Joe) of Sebring, Florida and Helen Boerner of Tupelo; 4 grandchildren, Chris Gilbert (Christine), Andy Gilbert (Deana), Hunter Harrington (Zack) and Hal Boerner; and 6 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Charlotte Mann Hunter; his parents; and his son-in-law, Henry “”Hank”” Boerner.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 400 Jefferson Street, Tupelo, Mississippi 38804.
Published in Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal on Mar. 4, 2017