Alfred “Red” Hunter died on May 15, 2020, at the age of 86.
Red was born on May 22, 1933, in Fish Eddy to Orville (Buck) and Ruby Weekly Hunter. Soon after Red was born, his Dad moved them to Hancock, where Buck started working on the first paved road in the town. When the Depression hit, Buck found it harder to find jobs, so he moved his talents to Fox Garage and his family to the village.
When they moved to the village Red became the new kid in town. He readily made friends with his fiery red hair, athletic ability, and outgoing personality. Red’s school years were filled with friends and sports, accumulating with Hancock’s basketball success under Coach John Sipos.
Red forever talked about and remembered being the manager of Hancock’s Hoosiers, the team that played Class A Norwich for the sectional title. Red and his team went on to have phenomenal success on the JV level. Red quit school at the start of basketball season because he wasn’t chosen for the team, and instead, he enlisted in the Air Force serving in Korea and being one of the first selected as a support technician for the brand new Thunderbirds. This made him want to fly, and he became a licensed pilot, and he continued to fly high until the end.
Like his Dad, Red was also mechanically inclined. He had a love for working on cars, trucks, planes. Whatever it was, he could fix it.
During the building of the Downsville Dam, Red started driving Eucs and did whatever else was needed to get the dam built. Red drove tractor-trailers (his passion) his whole life, working for different companies and individuals.
Red was a member of the American Legion for 50 years and the (AOPA) Aircraft Owners Pilots Association.
Red is survived by his children, James and Wendy, John and Margaret, David and Tracy Hunter, Kim and Eric Schmitz, and Mark and Amy Bass, grandchildren Jamie (Pat) Kille, Jonathan (Jessica) Hunter, Lucas Trevor, and Brooke Hunter, Desiree Bass, Sheree (Michael) Noviello, Diona, Jonathan, Ethan, MacKenzie, and Bianca Bass, and 11 great-grandchildren.
He also leaves behind lifelong friends Phil Faigle and Charles Buckley.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 51 years, Mary Lou, mother of Kim and Mark; and Ann Ferrera mother of Jim, John and David; his son Steve Lord, his parents, and his two brothers, Ralph “Buck” and Tom.
Interment will be at a later date in Riverview Cemetery, Hancock.
Arrangements by Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel, Hancock.
