The Rev'd. William H Hunter, OSL

The Rev'd William H. Hunter, OSL, passed to the Risen Lord on the 11th day of September 2011. A minister of Jesus Christ, he was called to ministry in 1951, professed in The Order of St. Luke in 1956, was ordained by The New York Conference, The United Methodist Church as Deacon in 1957 and Elder in 1959. A parish pastor throughout life, he served Georgetown United Methodist Church. Following retirement, he worked in area industry while filling in at area churches of several denominations during pastors' absences. The Hunters moved to Kingston, NY, in 1999. He grew in the faith at Delaware Avenue United Methodist Church at East Erie Avenue. On graduation from Lorain High School in 1952, he was licensed by The Norwalk District of the Church. He was on the Tennis Team at Lorain High, a member of DeMolay and a model enthusiast. Local work to provide educational funds included jobs at Magic Chef and National Tube in Lorain; Fruehauf Trailer in Avon Lake. He began furthering his education at Mount Union College, Alliance, OH. 1954-1956, Portage County (Palmyra) and Mahoning County (Pricetown): A parish pastor throughout life, he served locally at Palmyra and Pricetown United Methodist Churches in the tri-county (Mahoning / Portage / Summit) tri-county area while attending Mount Union College in Alliance. During his ministry, both growing churches constructed additions. Their progress led finally to full-time ministry at each church. NEW YORK 1963-1966, Columbia County: A parish pastor throughout life, he served locally at Hillsdale and North Hillsdale United Methodist Churches. While there, he began church-school teacher-training as a round-robin among county school districts through the Columbia County Council of Churches. He helped plan chaplaincy rotation among area clergy for Memorial Hospital of Columbia County at Hudson. Locally, he joined with Dr. Patrick DelGrande and other men in the community to revive Boy Scouting through the church. 1986-1990, Delaware County: A parish pastor throughout life, he served locally at Hancock United Methodist Church. He thus came within a few miles of following in the footsteps of his father-in-law, The Rev'd W. Stanley Risch, who had served United Methodist Churches in East Branch, Fishes Eddy and Harvard. Mrs. Hunter, ne Shirley Marie Risch, spent part of her elementary years at East Branch and was part of the church choir there. Locally, "Pastor Bill" had concern for youth of the church and area, with a view to helping high school students go forward with their education. He oversaw the church's Camp Kingswood on Hathaway Pond Road during its off season. Summertime, he was counselor and finally director of area-wide church canoe camps based there. He was a member of the Hancock Rotary Club. He was on the local Board when Literacy Volunteers formed as independent R.E.A.D., seeking freedom to better serve the area. In addition, he worked with The American Red Cross and Civil Defense authorities in Delaware, Sullivan and Wayne Counties to coordinate emergency services to the area. 1968 1978, Greene County: A parish pastor throughout life, he served locally at Coxsackie and Earlton United Methodist Churches beginning in 1968, then as interim at Cairo, South Cairo and Round Top United Methodist Churches from 1976-1978. He also served variously at Protestant Chaplain, NYS Correctional Facility at West Coxsackie; Chairman, Greene County Narcotics Guidance Council; and member, Coxsackie Town/Village Cablevision Commission. Kingston Area (Dutchess / Ulster) 1960-1963: Shokan Area: A parish pastor throughout life, he served locally at The United Methodist Churches at Ashokan, Glenford and West Hurley, now The Reservoir Church. He was known for youth work, organizing annual trips to New York City's sites of interest, both of the church and tourist attractions. In addition to the busy schedule of serving these three churches, he was active as counselor, then director of camping programs at nearby Camp Epworth on Lucas Turnpike Extension, High Falls. 1982-1986: Rhinebeck: He was appointed to Rhinebeck's Garrettson Memorial and Hillside United Methodist Churches in the mid 1980's. While there, he led the church's youth in annual excursions to cities in which the Church's efforts served a wide range of interests. Special in the Hillside Church was its warm welcome to developmentally-challenged students at nearby boarding schools, who often outnumbered church members at services. Following retirement from full-time ministry, the Hunters settled in Kingston and into life within the pews of Saint James United Methodist Church. Orange County A parish pastor throughout life, he served Orange County churches while attending seminary at The School of Theology at Drew University, Madison, NJ. 1956-1957: At St. Paul's United Methodist Church Middletown, he served as Assistant Pastor under The Rev'd Dr. Burton F. Tarr, with emphasis on youth work and ministry to shut-ins. 1957-1960: He was soon transferred to Harriman and Southfields United Methodist Churches. While there, he joined Shirley Marie ne Risch, herself a pastor's daughter, in holy matrimony. He began a junior rifle club for area youth with the Monroe Sportsmen's Club's gracious provision of their shooting range. He also took part in a church expansion project at Greenwood Lake from which a Lutheran church evolved. 1978-1982, Queens County (New York City): A parish pastor throughout life, he served locally at Bayside United Methodist Church with its close relationship with Colonial Reformed Church. He worked with the churches scout groups, including the only "open" scout unit in the community, and the Camp Melville in Putnam County maintained for outdoor purposes. "Pastor Bill" served as President, Queens' Federation of Churches Emergency Food Pantry, along with Mrs. Hunter's very active partnership. 1968-1970, Westchester County: A parish pastor throughout life, he served locally at VanCortlandtville United Methodist Church, where he was known for his youth-fellowship and scouting work. While there, he directed religious programming over radio station WHUD on behalf of the Peekskill Area Pastors' Association (PAPA). During this time he completed the year-long program of the County Department of Social Services that led to his Certificate of Pastoral Care, while serving people resident in its several facilities. 1999 ff: Retirement Following retirement to Kingston, he was interim or contract pastor at several churches: Port Ewen Reformed; Shokan and Mt. Tremper Reformed; and Union Center Community. Since, he offered Christ in word and sacrament at several other churches in the larger Kingston area. He participated in several volunteer activities at St. James United Methodist Church and through the Kingston Area Council of Churches throughout this time. Following 9/11, he was a founding member of the NY Annual Conference Disaster Preparedness and Response team; continued in disaster, then health and safety work with Ulster County's American Red Cross. He was personally involved in the Kingston area flooding of 2005 and that in Walton, NY in 2006. He initiated the Ulster County Emergency Chaplain Corps through the Kingston Area Council of Churches. The Rev'd Hunter earned the STM degree from NY Theological Seminary; CPE from The Hudson River Counseling Service, Hawthorne NY; the MDiv (sic: "iv" for Divinity superscript) degree from Drew University, Madison, NJ; and BA in psychology from Mt. Union College, Alliance, OH. Throughout his full-time service he maintained studies in a variety of ministry-related subjects, with emphasis on the helping sciences. In the 1970's he taught Transactional Analysis to faculty of Columbia and Greene public schools in conjunction with Columbia-Greene Community College. Concurrent with pastoral duties were denominational assignments. Most notable were leadership of the Metropolitan-area Television, Radio and Film Commission (TRAFCO) for some years, then its Leadership Development Committee. A rare privilege was being a small part of the nation-wide team that developed the Church's current The United Methodist Hymnal 1989 and The United Methodist Book of Worship 1992. "Pastor Bill" directed several conference-wide youth camps among other less-intensive assignments. He was a modest contributor to religious periodicals, and at one time wrote the "Pastor's Pen" column for a local weekly (The Ulster County, NY Townsman in the early 1960's). The Rev'd Hunter was also active in the community, beginning with DeMolay in high school and bodies of Ancient Craft Masonry since, lately Chaplain of Kingston Lodge #10, F. He was a member of AS (Alpha Sigma Phi) college fraternity, volunteer fire departments, and in retirement, a participant in the Kingston Area Council of Churches. He continued more than thirty years' activity in American Red Cross disaster work, then later as health and safety instructor, through retirement years. He was also a member of the Kingston Model Railroad Club. "Pastor Bill" was born July 24, 1934 in Elizabeth, NY, the son of William H. Hunter Jr., a metallurgist, and Elinor Louise ne Welch. He grew up in Lorain, OH, a steel mill town on Lake Erie. Mrs. Hunter, ne Shirley Marie Risch, is daughter of the late The Rev'd W. Stanley Risch and Ethel E. ne Floughton. Their sons William H. IV of Brooklyn and Timothy R. of Hudson, NY predeceased him. The Hunters have six grandchildren: Timothy Jr., Jane, Elizabeth, Julianne, Kevin and Chelsea; two great-grandchildren. Also surviving is a sister, Elinor (sic) Louise Bayse of Cleveland, OH. The Rev'd Hunter's body has been donated to Albany Medical College. A Service of Death and Resurrection, then gathering of friends and family, will be held at St. James United Methodist Church, Fair and Pearl Streets, on Saturday, September 24th at 11:00 am. Memorial contributions may be made to the "NDH Foundation," c/o The Thompson House, 6525 Springbrook Ave., Rhinebeck, NY 12572.