Carolyn Rhodes Hunt

1926 - 2016

Carolyn Rhodes Hunt, 90, a native and life-long resident of Lexington, North Carolina passed away peacefully in Charlotte on Tuesday morning, June 21, 2016. After being in declining health in recent weeks, she was surrounded over the past few days by her children and several of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Carolyn resided at Summit Place at SouthPark, an assisted living community, in Charlotte, NC for the past eight years.

Carolyn was born in February 1926 to the late William Edward and Ella Tysinger Rhodes. She had ten siblings, brothers Homer, Dermont, and William, Jr. (June), and sisters Lena Smith, Ethel Weaver, Mabel Mickey, Ruby Chappell, Maggie Wilson and Peggy Briggs, all deceased and surviving brother, Herbert Rhodes of Burlington, NC. She graduated from Linwood High School and was proud that she was the valedictorian of her senior class.

On June 7, 1947, Carolyn married Fred O. Hunt, her high school sweetheart, upon Fred's honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, following his service during World War II. Carolyn and Fred were happily married for 64 years prior to Fred's passing in 2012. Carolyn and Fred were extremely proud of and loved their family very deeply, including their daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Reid (deceased) Lookabill of Chattanooga, Tennessee; sons and daughters-in-law, Doug and Debbie Hunt of Lexington, NC; Dave and Martha Hunt of Raleigh, NC; and Jim and Ginny Hunt of Charlotte, NC, who faithfully cared for Fred and Carolyn since their move to Charlotte in 2008. Carolyn is also survived by ten grandchildren, Commander (US Navy) Ryan (and Julia) Lookabill of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Jay (and Kate) Lookabill of Tokyo, Japan, Amy Hunt (and Michael) Bushnell of Charlotte, NC, Anna Hunt (and Nat) Hunter of Lancaster, SC, Rhodes Hunt of Raleigh, NC, Spencer Hunt of Raleigh, NC, Alli Hunt (and Paul) Hogan of Myrtle Beach, SC, Kenan Hunt of Charlotte, NC, Davis Hunt of San Francisco, California, and Graham Hunt of Washington, DC. In addition, Carolyn is survived by nine great-grandchildren.

Following their marriage, Carolyn was a homemaker for several years, taking care of her children, serving as an active member of her church, thoughtful daughter to her parents and faithful sister to her siblings. She was a voracious gardener, canning and freezing virtually every fruit and vegetable grown in NC. Carolyn loved to sew and cross-stitch and often made clothes for the kids. She was also a terrific cook and loved making big spreads for the family at holidays and other special occasions. Once Jim started school, Carolyn took several jobs with local manufacturing and retail companies in the Lexington, NC area looking for a fulfilling career. Consistent with her emphasis on education, Carolyn returned to school, while all four of her children were still at home, and received her training as an accountant at Ashemore Business College, in Thomasville, NC. Subsequently, she became a cost accountant for PPG Industries in Lexington, NC and worked there for 23 years until her retirement in 1990.

Carolyn was a member of Center Hill Baptist Church in Lexington, NC for over forty years and also sang in the choir. Later in life, Carolyn and Fred moved to High Rock Lake and became members of the Macedonia United Methodist Church, which was near their home at the lake. Carolyn was an enthusiastic member of the choir at Macedonia as well.

A funeral service and celebration of her life will be held at Macedonia United Methodist Church in Southmont, NC on Saturday, June 25, 2016. Visitation will be at the Church at 1:00PM and the funeral service will immediately follow at 2:00PM. A burial service will be held at Forest Hills Memorial Cemetery in Lexington, NC following the funeral service.

The family would like to express its appreciation to the staff at the Summit Place at SouthPark in Charlotte and Asbury Care Center at Aldersgate for their wonderful compassion in caring for Carolyn.

In lieu of flowers, consider sending donations to Alzheimer's Association, Western Carolina Chapter, 4600 Park Road # 250, Charlotte, NC 28209 or Macedonia United Methodist Church, 10890 NC Highway 8, Lexington, NC 27351.

Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203; online at www.hankinsandwhittington.com