Retired United States Marine Corps (USMC) Gunnery Sergeant Herbert (Herb) R. Hunton passed away on September 1, 2018 surrounded by family at St. Mary's Essentia in Duluth, MN at the age of 89 years and eight months. He was born on January 26, 1929 in Closter, New Jersey to Andrew J. Hunton and Amelia (Schmidt) Hunton.
Herb is survived by his wife; Rita M. (Spychalla) Cheney-Hunton, step-children: Chris (Carol) Cheney, Lori (Bob) Marana, Mark (Jean) Cheney and Lloyd (Terri) Cheney; sister Grace (Hunton) Teats; brother Andrew Jackson (Jack) Hunton; numerous nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife MaryJo (Shirley) and his son Rick.
Herb enlisted in the USMC in 1946 at the age of 17. He arrived in Japan at the end of WWII during its occupation. He was stationed at other various locations including Panama prior to the Korean War. Herb's empathy for others, even a relentless and determined enemy, was an inspiration to all who knew him. On December 7, 1950, after more than ten days of intense and constant combat, already suffering from severe frostbite, Herb was wounded in the leg. He was among the last wounded men to be evacuated before the US forces retreated south of Hagaru-ri.
Herb served two tours of duty in Vietnam from 1965 to 1968. Herb was again wounded, this time in the foot and awarded his second Purple Heart. Herb also was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation and the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V device for Valor. After serving for 22 years, through three wars, Gny Sgt Herbert R. Hunton retired from Active Duty in the Marine Corps on August 23, 1968 and served another eight years in the Fleet Marine Corp Reserve.
After his service in the Marine Corps, Herb went to work managing a janitorial service company in the Houston and Galveston, TX area. He did this for nearly 30 years and subsequently retired to Port Isabel, TX. Herb loved deep sea fishing in the Texas coastal waters. In the years following the loss of his son Ricky and wife MaryJo (Shirley), the Osprey Cruises crew and all the friends he met while pursuing his greatest passion, fishing, became another family to him. This is where Herb met Rita M. Cheney while she was vacationing with her brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Bonnie Spychalla. Herb and Rita began a relationship that led to marriage. Together Herb and Rita traveled extensively throughout the US, wintering in Texas and spending summer in Minnesota. He loved family gatherings and was always one to help in any way he could, especially if he could bring brisket, brats, ocean fish and shrimp. Herb was a loving husband, and best Dad and Grandpa anyone could be blessed with. Herb you are deeply missed.
Interment was in the Cook Community Cemetery.
Herb is survived by his wife; Rita M. (Spychalla) Cheney-Hunton, step-children: Chris (Carol) Cheney, Lori (Bob) Marana, Mark (Jean) Cheney and Lloyd (Terri) Cheney; sister Grace (Hunton) Teats; brother Andrew Jackson (Jack) Hunton; numerous nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife MaryJo (Shirley) and his son Rick.
Herb enlisted in the USMC in 1946 at the age of 17. He arrived in Japan at the end of WWII during its occupation. He was stationed at other various locations including Panama prior to the Korean War. Herb's empathy for others, even a relentless and determined enemy, was an inspiration to all who knew him. On December 7, 1950, after more than ten days of intense and constant combat, already suffering from severe frostbite, Herb was wounded in the leg. He was among the last wounded men to be evacuated before the US forces retreated south of Hagaru-ri.
Herb served two tours of duty in Vietnam from 1965 to 1968. Herb was again wounded, this time in the foot and awarded his second Purple Heart. Herb also was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation and the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V device for Valor. After serving for 22 years, through three wars, Gny Sgt Herbert R. Hunton retired from Active Duty in the Marine Corps on August 23, 1968 and served another eight years in the Fleet Marine Corp Reserve.
After his service in the Marine Corps, Herb went to work managing a janitorial service company in the Houston and Galveston, TX area. He did this for nearly 30 years and subsequently retired to Port Isabel, TX. Herb loved deep sea fishing in the Texas coastal waters. In the years following the loss of his son Ricky and wife MaryJo (Shirley), the Osprey Cruises crew and all the friends he met while pursuing his greatest passion, fishing, became another family to him. This is where Herb met Rita M. Cheney while she was vacationing with her brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Bonnie Spychalla. Herb and Rita began a relationship that led to marriage. Together Herb and Rita traveled extensively throughout the US, wintering in Texas and spending summer in Minnesota. He loved family gatherings and was always one to help in any way he could, especially if he could bring brisket, brats, ocean fish and shrimp. Herb was a loving husband, and best Dad and Grandpa anyone could be blessed with. Herb you are deeply missed.
Interment was in the Cook Community Cemetery.
Retired United States Marine Corps (USMC) Gunnery Sergeant Herbert (Herb) R. Hunton passed away on September 1, 2018 surrounded by family at St. Mary's Essentia in Duluth, MN at the age of 89 years and eight months. He was born on January 26, 1929 in Closter, New Jersey to Andrew J. Hunton and Amelia (Schmidt) Hunton.
Herb is survived by his wife; Rita M. (Spychalla) Cheney-Hunton, step-children: Chris (Carol) Cheney, Lori (Bob) Marana, Mark (Jean) Cheney and Lloyd (Terri) Cheney; sister Grace (Hunton) Teats; brother Andrew Jackson (Jack) Hunton; numerous nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife MaryJo (Shirley) and his son Rick.
Herb enlisted in the USMC in 1946 at the age of 17. He arrived in Japan at the end of WWII during its occupation. He was stationed at other various locations including Panama prior to the Korean War. Herb's empathy for others, even a relentless and determined enemy, was an inspiration to all who knew him. On December 7, 1950, after more than ten days of intense and constant combat, already suffering from severe frostbite, Herb was wounded in the leg. He was among the last wounded men to be evacuated before the US forces retreated south of Hagaru-ri.
Herb served two tours of duty in Vietnam from 1965 to 1968. Herb was again wounded, this time in the foot and awarded his second Purple Heart. Herb also was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation and the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V device for Valor. After serving for 22 years, through three wars, Gny Sgt Herbert R. Hunton retired from Active Duty in the Marine Corps on August 23, 1968 and served another eight years in the Fleet Marine Corp Reserve.
After his service in the Marine Corps, Herb went to work managing a janitorial service company in the Houston and Galveston, TX area. He did this for nearly 30 years and subsequently retired to Port Isabel, TX. Herb loved deep sea fishing in the Texas coastal waters. In the years following the loss of his son Ricky and wife MaryJo (Shirley), the Osprey Cruises crew and all the friends he met while pursuing his greatest passion, fishing, became another family to him. This is where Herb met Rita M. Cheney while she was vacationing with her brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Bonnie Spychalla. Herb and Rita began a relationship that led to marriage. Together Herb and Rita traveled extensively throughout the US, wintering in Texas and spending summer in Minnesota. He loved family gatherings and was always one to help in any way he could, especially if he could bring brisket, brats, ocean fish and shrimp. Herb was a loving husband, and best Dad and Grandpa anyone could be blessed with. Herb you are deeply missed.
Interment was in the Cook Community Cemetery.
Herb is survived by his wife; Rita M. (Spychalla) Cheney-Hunton, step-children: Chris (Carol) Cheney, Lori (Bob) Marana, Mark (Jean) Cheney and Lloyd (Terri) Cheney; sister Grace (Hunton) Teats; brother Andrew Jackson (Jack) Hunton; numerous nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife MaryJo (Shirley) and his son Rick.
Herb enlisted in the USMC in 1946 at the age of 17. He arrived in Japan at the end of WWII during its occupation. He was stationed at other various locations including Panama prior to the Korean War. Herb's empathy for others, even a relentless and determined enemy, was an inspiration to all who knew him. On December 7, 1950, after more than ten days of intense and constant combat, already suffering from severe frostbite, Herb was wounded in the leg. He was among the last wounded men to be evacuated before the US forces retreated south of Hagaru-ri.
Herb served two tours of duty in Vietnam from 1965 to 1968. Herb was again wounded, this time in the foot and awarded his second Purple Heart. Herb also was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation and the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V device for Valor. After serving for 22 years, through three wars, Gny Sgt Herbert R. Hunton retired from Active Duty in the Marine Corps on August 23, 1968 and served another eight years in the Fleet Marine Corp Reserve.
After his service in the Marine Corps, Herb went to work managing a janitorial service company in the Houston and Galveston, TX area. He did this for nearly 30 years and subsequently retired to Port Isabel, TX. Herb loved deep sea fishing in the Texas coastal waters. In the years following the loss of his son Ricky and wife MaryJo (Shirley), the Osprey Cruises crew and all the friends he met while pursuing his greatest passion, fishing, became another family to him. This is where Herb met Rita M. Cheney while she was vacationing with her brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Bonnie Spychalla. Herb and Rita began a relationship that led to marriage. Together Herb and Rita traveled extensively throughout the US, wintering in Texas and spending summer in Minnesota. He loved family gatherings and was always one to help in any way he could, especially if he could bring brisket, brats, ocean fish and shrimp. Herb was a loving husband, and best Dad and Grandpa anyone could be blessed with. Herb you are deeply missed.
Interment was in the Cook Community Cemetery.
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