John S. Hunter

John S. Hunter, age 86, of Wichita, died on Tuesday, January 7, 2020. He was born in Cedar Rapids, IA on February 11, 1933 to Harvey Dean Hunter and Marjorie Belle Williams Hunter. John grew up in Cedar Rapids and later went to Iowa State University, receiving his BS in Aeronautical Engineering. John met his wife, Ann (Pendlebury) while at Iowa State University. They were married in 1954 and raised four children, Cheri (Glenn Etherington), Beth, Rob (Kim), and Amy (Jeff Smith). John has 10 grandchildren, Thomas and Sara Etherington, Mitchell and Allen Burright, Allie, Riley and Lauren Hunter, and Megan, Hunter and Carson Smith; and 3 great-grandchildren, MaeLynn, Malakhi, and Macie Burright. He is also survived by his brother, William (Rita). After graduating from Iowa State, John began working on the blimp project with Goodyear Aerospace Corporation in Akron, Ohio. In 1960, he accepted a position in Wichita, KS working for Beechcraft Aircraft and later Lear Jet. In between the aeronautical engineering positions, he received his actuarial license and worked in the pension industry for a number of years. John was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church and sang in the church choirs for years.  He was honored to have been part of a choir that sang at Carnegie Hall on two separate occasions. John was a supporter of Wichita State University sports, including being a season ticket holder for WSU men’s basketball, and over the years attending many of the WSU women’s basketball and volleyball games and men’s baseball games. John is remembered as a loving and caring father, as well as an intelligent man with a strong sense of responsibility and fun sense of humor. He enjoyed weekends at the lake, traveling, and playing bridge and golf. John was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Marjorie Hunter. A private service will be held at a later date. Memorials have been established with Heart & Soul Hospice, 2414 N. Woodlawn Blvd., Wichita, KS 67220; and the Kansas Humane Society, 3313 N. Hillside, Wichita, KS 67219. Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.