A Tribute to my Grandfather

At 2:50am on the morning of Feb 2, 2008, my grandpa Hunt passed from this life into the next. He would have turned 86 later this month, he had been married to my grandma for 64 1/2 years. His health had been getting worse and worse and a few weeks ago suffered from a stroke. The stoke created a situation in which my grandpa was not able to eat or drink hardly anything at all. His children all gathered at his side and were fortunately all in town when he decided to let go. My grandmother was afraid before he passed and would not leave his side, she slept in a chair beside him and would kiss him as if saying goodbye forever every time she left his side. The Friday before he passed my father told her that she should tell him that it is okay if he lets go. Her response was that she was not ready. That night my grandma slept in her room for the first time in a few days. She realized it was alright to say goodbye.



Here is his obituary:

Ralph Emerson Hunt, age 85, died of natural causes at Abernethy Laurels in Newton, North Carolina, on February 2, 2008. He was surrounded by his loving family.
Ralph was born in Rutland, Vermont, on February 17, 1922, the son of the late Lawrence Emerson Hunt, the late Jennie May (Lincoln) Hunt, and his stepmother, the late Jessie (Collins) Hunt.
On June 25, 1943, Ralph married Ruth Mary (Paul) Hunt at the First Congregational Church in Washington, D.C. Through their 64 years of marriage, Ralph and Ruth lived in Newark, Belleville, and Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, Grantham, New Hampshire and Newton, North Carolina. In addition to his beloved wife, he is survived by his five children and their spouses (Lawrence P. and Dorothy

Hunt, William and Carol H. Ruhle, Geoffrey and Shirley H. Harris, Robert and Joyce H. Wetmore, William L. and Jacqueline Hunt). He also leaves nineteen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.

Following high school graduation from Rutland High School as salutatorian, Ralph attended Cornell University, studying floriculture. Ralph took accounting courses from LaSalle University and passed his Certified Public Accountant examination in 1949. During his career, Ralph worked as an auditor for the Haskins and Sells accounting firm from 1946 to 1958. He joined Lehn and Fink Products Corporation in 1958 and retired as Manager of Finance in 1982.

His family gratefully remembers Ralph’s deep love of family, quiet dignity and his sense of humor. He enjoyed classical music, playing piano and singing in church and community choirs. He had been a member of the Pro Arte Chorale in New Jersey for a number of years.