Mr. Howard Wayne Hunter, age 80, a resident of Royal, Arkansas passed from his earthly life, to his heavenly home on Tuesday, September 7, 2021 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

He was born November 20, 1940 in De Queen, Arkansas. Howard worked delivering newspapers and was an employee of Brooks Drug Store before graduating from De Queen High School in 1959. He immediately enlisted in the US Navy where he proudly served for 21 years. He worked at Quapaw for many years. He and Rita Green were united in marriage on March 10, 1961 in Dierks, Arkansas.

He accepted the Lord as his savior and was baptized in 1971 at a Baptist Church in Hayward, California. He loved the Arkansas Razorbacks, John Wayne, flying his planes, playing banjo and playing with all of his great grandchildren. He was a kind hearted, soft spoken man who was loved by all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. Hunter was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Ellis “Bob” and Rosa Isabelle Davis Hunter; one niece, Donna Day, two nephews, Cliff Day, Andrew Day, one brother-in-law, Harold Day; mother and father-in-law, Carruth and Dorothy Green.

Those of us left to cherish his memory include his wife of 60 years, Rita of Royal, Arkansas; daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Kent Hunt of Hope, Arkansas, son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Sheri Hunter of Cypress, Texas; five grandchildren and spouses, Raven Taylor of Texarkana, Texas, Taylor Jester and husband, Alex of Hope, Arkansas, Jeffrey and Abby Hunter of Olathe, Kansas, Kacie Hunter of Cypress, TX and Will Dreamer of Royal, AR; four great grandchildren, Landon and Aidan Taylor of Texarkana, TX and Harper and Cambree Jester of Hope, AR; four sisters and brothers-in-law, Bobbie Day of Ashdown, AR, Janice and David Frady of De Queen, AR, Sandi and Jeff Stovall of Fayetteville, Arkansas and Lou and Carl Imhof of Rogers, Arkansas and special friends, Jerry and Marti Dreamer of Royal, AR and Tristan Ferrell of Hot Springs.

Graveside funeral services and burial with full military rites will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 11, 2021 in Belleville Cemetery in Lockesburg with Bro. Larry Fry officiating, under the direction of Wilkerson Funeral Home in De Queen.

The family would like for everyone to wear a face mask and practice social distancing for safety.

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