John Hungate

John Hungate 76, loving husband, father, and Papa, died Monday, July 20, 2020. John Harrison Hungate was born in Mt. Vernon, Illinois on October 2, 1943 to Robert and Rosemary Hungate. He was the 4th of seven children and moved with his family to Wichita in 1960. After graduating from South High in 1961, he enlisted in the Air Force. He was married to Julie Watt on September 28, 1963 and from this union, they have 3 children, Todd, Tracy and Trent. John was a family man and enjoyed being active with his children’s activities. He was involved in Scouts, helped coach baseball and basketball and spent many hours volunteering as the Athletic Director at All Saints School. John tried to attend as many activities as possible despite his busy travel schedule for work. John was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, Oklahoma during the four years he served in the Air Force. In 1965, they moved to Brenham, Texas to help run his father’s grocery store with his two brothers, Robert and Harvey. After only tolerating the Texas heat and humidity for four months, John, Julie and Todd moved back to Wichita where John started his sales career. He worked in sales for 38 years at various companies, including Proctor and Gamble, Helene Rubenstein and M&M Mars. He retired from M&M Mars in 2003 after 23 years. Although his career, required lots of travel, he was always connected to his family and eager to hear what was going on at home. In 1987, John acquired his most treasured title as “Papa” with the birth of his first grandson, Colter. He became Papa eight times over with the additional blessings of Shelby, Haley, Paige, Addison, Nathan, Hayes and Ben. This was quite possibly his most rewarding role and as his grandchildren can attest, he overachieved. He was very active with his grandchildren’s activities, attending as many games, plays, dance recitals and music programs that he could fit into his schedule. He was the first to volunteer to watch sick children, pick them up from school and would genuinely “spend” time with them playing or talking with them. When he wasn’t busy with grandchildren, he enjoyed spending time on the golf course with close friends and family and keeping his lawn looking pristine. Unfortunately, John’s health attempted to rob him of much happiness and joy but he battled and would not let his health get the best of him. Despite fighting Leukemia twice, Legionnaire’s Disease, lung cancer, and several strokes which eventually took his vision, John never complained. He suffered much pain the past few years but was always concerned about others and accepted the changes to his life with a positive attitude. John’s fight with his health ended on July 20, 2020. Julie and the entire family take comfort in knowing he is no longer in pain and in a much better place. John is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Rosemary Hungate; brother, Robert and sister, Becky. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Julie Hungate of Wichita; children, Todd (Dawn) Hungate of Kechi, Kansas, Tracy (Ed Davis) of Bel Aire, Kansas, and Trent Hungate of Andover, Kansas; grandchildren Colter Davis, Shelby Davis, Haley (Marcus) Graeff, Paige Hungate, Addison Hungate, Nathan Hungate, Hayes Hungate and Ben Hungate; brothers Mike (Cindy) Hungate of Katy, Texas, Harvey Hungate of Phoenix, Arizona and sisters Rosie (Ken) Landua of Katy, Texas and Jane Crutchfield of Waco, Texas. Rosary will be at 7:00 pm, Thursday, July 23, 2020; Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am, Friday, July 24, 2020 both at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Funeral will be live-streamed on YouTube on the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Wichita channel. Memorials have been established with: Good Shepherd Hospice, 7829 E. Rockhill St. #403, Wichita, KS 67206; Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 3450 N. Rock Rd., Ste. 204, Wichita, KS 67226. Downing & Lahey Mortuary-East Chapel.