Donald Hunt

Donald Hunt was born Nov. 5, 1921, in Richmond, Ind., to Mildred Lathrop and Ronald G. Hunt. When he was 15, his parents were divorced and his mother remarried. He lived with his mother; stepfather, Guy Warfield; stepbrothers, Donald and Douglas; and his half-brother, Guy Eugene. Don graduated from Richmond High School in 1941 and participated in a work-study program of NATCO machinery and The University of Cincinnati. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1942, and served in several states and the Philippines before being discharged in April of 1946. Don married Virginia Clark on June 24, 1947, in Panguitch, Utah. He earned multiple degrees, including a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Colorado in 1949 and a master’s in 1950. After graduate work at Stanford University, he earned a Master’s of Library Science from the University of Michigan in 1954. His first library job was at Washington State University in Pullman, where their daughter Cynthia was born in 1955. They moved to Corvallis in December of 1955 when Don took a job at Oregon State University. Their son Jeffrey was born in 1958 and daughter Kristin in 1959. They moved to San Jose, Calif., in 1972 when Don took a job as Director of Libraries at San Jose State University. In 1976 they moved to Knoxville, Tenn., when Don took the job of Dean and Director of the University of Tennessee Library Systems. He retired in 1989, and they returned to Corvallis. Don was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, the American Library Association and the Pacific Northwest Library Association. After retiring, Don and Virginia enjoyed traveling, including a trip to England and Scotland, a walking tour of several European countries, and a later trip to Russia, Poland and Scandinavia. Their last trip overseas was to Greece and Turkey. Don was an active volunteer at Good Samaritan Hospital in the library and then in Short Stay. Don had 13,173.17 hours of volunteer service at Good Samaritan, and was a valued and loved member of the Short Stay team for many years. An early advocate of health and fitness, Don started running in the late 1960s and exercised his entire life. He set lifelong learning and education as family values that carry through to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Don was an example of integrity and honesty as well as having a wonderful sense of humor and an appreciation of history and music. He amused his children and then his grandchildren with his whimsical drawings. Don and Virginia’s children grew up confident and loved, and knew they always had a place to come home. Don is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ginge; and their children Cindy (Ken) Hatch of Enumclaw, Wash., Jeff (Kathy) Hunt of Bangor, Maine, and Kris Hunt of Corvallis; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Remembrances can be made to the USO at www.uso.org or by phone at 800-876-7469.

Tributes

Donald Hunt

November 5, 1921 - September 16, 2012