Howard John "Mike" Hunt

1922 - 2019

Howard John "Mike" Hunt obituary, 1922-2019, Anchorage, AK

BORN

1922

DIED

2019

FUNERAL HOME

Kehl's Legacy Funeral Home - Anchorage

11621 Old Seward Highway

Anchorage, Alaska

Howard Hunt Obituary

Howard John "Mike" Hunt

Anchorage - Howard John "Mike" Hunt, age 97, passed away peacefully at home on August 31, 2019 surrounded by his family. Howard was born on January 16, 1922 in Polk City, Iowa. He was an Alaskan pioneer who came to Alaska in 1949 to establish a new airline, Air Transport Associates (ATA). Howard and his wife, Ruth, along with their three young daughters, homesteaded 40 acres in the Anchorage bowl area. Ruth passed away in 1962. Howard then married Carol Pierce, who had a daughter and, later, Howard and Carol had a son.

Throughout his life, Howard's love of flying took him all around the world. He was a ferry pilot in WWII with the Army Air Corps, flying every type of plane the army had in its inventory including the B-17, "Memphis Belle". In 2018, Howard was honored at the 75th anniversary ceremony celebrating the restoration of the Memphis Belle. He was the last known surviving pilot to have flown the Belle on a 10-day bond drive from Spokane, Washington to Tampa, Florida at the end of WWII. Airplanes, especially warbirds, were his passion. He helped finance the restoration of three warbirds and eventually donated them to the Alaska Wing of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). These warbirds are hangared in Anchorage and are proudly flown at airshows around Alaska. On many Saturdays during the summer months in Anchorage, one warbird, the BT-13, is available for paid rides. These rides support the upkeep and maintenance of the warbirds.

Howard is survived by his sister, Virginia Silver; daughters, Nancy (Jim), Barbara, Diane (Tony), Dashelle, and son, Howard; grandchildren, Terry, Tracee, Gary, Carlie, Karilynn, John, Kelly, Jack, Denise, Elizabeth, Caroline and Trinity; and 15 great grandchildren; nieces, Maxine (Don), Kathy, and Jan (Roger).

A Memorial Service was held at the Alaska Aviation Museum at Lake Hood, on October 12th from Noon to 4:00 PM. At noon, the CAF warbirds will perform a flyover in the missing man formation.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alaska Aviation Museum or the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). "Let's keep those warbirds flying." Howard "Mike" Hunt would be pleased.

Published by Tennessean from Oct. 9 to Oct. 13, 2019.
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In his life, Mike did so many good things for his family and neighbors. He also found thoughtful and inventive ways to share the wonders and promises of aviation with us. And, he stood tall, very tall, among his fellow veterans a real friend of veterans and their families.

When it came to the challenging tasks of acquiring warbirds, running an aviation business, or getting our Alaska Veterans Museum up and running he could be counted on to lend a generous hand. We will remember him, recall his love of Alaska, and his unwavering devotion to our Nation.

We're filled with gratitude for having known him, and inspired by the ways he chose to share his life with us.

Michael Haller - Alaska Veterans Museum

October 7, 2019

Mike was a great friend to my folks and was always so kind to me. He was a gentleman from an era of folks who worked hard and got things done. He will be missed. Godspeed, Mike.

Janie Evanson Henderson

October 7, 2019

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Memorial Events
for Howard Hunt

Oct

12

Memorial service

12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Alaska Aviation Museum

Lake Hood, AK

Funeral services provided by:

Kehl's Legacy Funeral Home - Anchorage

11621 Old Seward Highway, Anchorage, AK 99515

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