Garland Hunt

Garland Hunt, of West Point, went home to Heaven on April 9, 2022, at the age of 97 at home. He was born in 1924 at the height of the Roaring 20”s in rural Oktibbeha County near Sturgis, Mississippi to Earl Maben Hunt and Martha Adelaide Sharp Hunt. He spent his school years during the worst of the Great Depression. After the 8th grade, he tried his hand as a sawmill worker, field hand, carpenter, milk delivery man among other various jobs in and around Sturgis and Starkville. At the age of 18, he married his sweetheart, Perval E. Sanders, on April 24, 1943. Three months later, Garland enlisted in the United States Navy and served his country in the amphibious forces. He was a pilot in the division of Standard Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) Higgins boats at San Diego, California, and Florida Island in the Solomons and then Manus Island in the Admiralty’s, South Pacific. He was on hand during the Admiralty Islands invasion and retaking campaign of Los Negros and Manus Islands off New Guinea, including gaining control of Seeadler Harbor and witnessed firsthand the explosion of the ammunition ship, USS Mount Hood. Garland received the American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with Star, Asiatic Theater Ribon-Pacific, and the World War II Victory Medal. He returned home to his wife and baby daughter Marie in Mississippi via Seattle, Washington in December 1945. Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal, completed Garland’s active service on January 31, 1946. Putting the war behind him, he was a gentleman farmer while taking courses in Horology at Clarksdale College. He graduated September 26, 1950. In 1953, he began working at the West Point Babcock and Wilcox plant. In 1954, Garland moved his wife, young daughter, Marie and son, Buddy to West Point where he also worked at Rowell’s Jewelry. He worked as an inspector at B&W until his retirement in 1988 after 35 years. For a period he then worked with his daughter Marie and her family at their company, Poindexter Manufacturing, Inc.

A gentle, humble man, Garland wanted no recognition for his sacrifice and contribution during World War II. An avid photographer, he captured his family’s history through his thousands of snapshots. He had a down home sense of humor and his country-isms were a source of family glue. Garland loved his family fishing trips and he was a passionate deer hunter.

Garland was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Adelaide Hunt and his only sibling, a sister, Kattie Lee Hunt Childs Miller. He is survived by his wife of 78 years, Perval E. Hunt of West Point: four children, Dorothy Marie Hunt Poindexter (Charles) of West Point, William Garland "Buddy" Hunt ( Special Friend Kay Fisher) of Foley, Alabama, Wanda Ann Hunt of West Point and Tony Curtis Hunt (Jeanie) of Caledonia: seven grandchildren; Charles Alex Poindexter, Jr, of West Point, David Garland Poindexter (Dayna) of Starkville, Scott Allen Hunt (Krystyna) of Foley, Alabama, Melissa Diane Hunt Chapple of Elberton, Georgia, Heather Nichole Hunt Harpole (Jeremy) of Caledonia, Haley Michelle Hunt of Caledonia, and Holden Curtis Hunt of Hattiesburg: fifteen great-grandchildren; Katelyn Elizabeth Poindexter Jones (Edwin), Mallory Brooke Poindexter Milican (Dale), Mikayla Reid Poindexter, Shelby Morgan Poindexter (Fiance Ethan Alan Ray), David Zachary Poindexter, Summer Angel Hunt, Samuel Aaron Hunt, Hayden Mitchell Hunt, Kelson David Hunt, Kiari Michelle Chapple, Ethan Cole Chapple, Carolyn Elizabeth Nalley, Tristan Whyatt Harpole, Keegan Curtis Harpole, and Vallan Reid Harpole, one great-great grandchild Peyton Olivia Milican: and a great number of beloved nieces and nephews.

Calvert Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with the arrangements. The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 14, 2022, from 12:00-2:00 PM. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 PM from Calvert Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Timothy Cook, Reverend Ethan Ray, and Chaplain Ronnie Hatfield, officiating. Internment will be at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Cemetery in Bradley. Pallbearers are Alex Poindexter, David Poindexter, Scott Hunt, Holden Hunt, Zachary Poindexter, and Jeremy Harpole. Honorary pallbearers are Charles Poindexter, Dale Milican, Edwin Jones, Mike Stewart, Dr. David Jolly, Dr. James Glisson, and Dr. Lucas McElwain. Vocalists are Heather Hunt Harpole and Jeanie Hunt. The family would like to express our thanks for the care given by the North Mississippi Medical Center Staff and North Mississippi Medical Center Hospice Staff. If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, 848 Adams Way, Memphis, TN 38103.