Joseph Hunter

JOSEPH SAMFORD HUNTER, 88, of Arcola, IL passed away at 7:47 A.M. on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at Carriage Crossing in Champaign, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Wednesday August 3, 2016 at the Arcola United Methodist Church, 121 S. Locust Street. Rev. Jeff Van Dyke and Rev. Donald Winch will officiate. Burial with military rites conducted by the Arcola VFW and The Arcola American Legion will be in the Arcola Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at the Edwards Funeral Home. A Rose Ceremony conducted by the Arcola Lions Club will be held at 4:45 P.M. (before visitation) on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at the funeral home and Masonic Rites Conducted by the Arcola Masonic Lodge 366 A.F. and A.M. will be held at 7:45 P.M. (at the close of visitation) Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at the funeral home.

Joe was born on October 8, 1927 in Marshall, IL. He was a son of Lonnie A. and Grace (Samford) Hunter. He married Mary Rita Ashley she passed away in 1986. He married Lola Cline in 1987 she survives.

Joe is also survived by three sons, Trace Hunter of Littleton, CO, Jeff Hunter of Chicago, IL and Todd Hunter of Golden, CO; five step-children, Scotty Cline and his wife Jan of Titusville, FL, Bob Cline and his wife Marilyn of Sadorus, IL, Carl Cline of Arcola, IL, Donna Knowles of Tuscola and Alex Cline and his wife April of Olney, IL; twelve step-grandchildren and seventeen step- great-grandchildren and one brother, Kenneth Hunter and his wife Mona of Allerton, IL four nephews, Rick Ingram and his wife Jean of St. Joseph, IL, Ray Hunter of Ava, IL, Kevin Hunter and his wife Tracy of Pearland, TX, Keith Hunter of Wadsworth, IL, and one niece Karen Hunter and her husband Todd Scheuermann of Albany, NY.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Mary Rita, one son, Mark Hunter, one brother, Edward Hunter, one sister, Ruby Ingram, a step-daughter, Susan Cline and a step-great-great-granddaughter, Emily Perry

Joe graduated from Newark High School in 1947. He attended the University of Illinois for one year before serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He returned to the U of I after getting out of the military. In 1954 he started working at USI in Tuscola, IL and retied there with over 37 years of service.

Joe is most known for his volunteerism and has contributed countless hours to many different organizations throughout his life.

He has served the Boy Scouts of America for over 50 years, the Arcola Lions Club for 39 years, the Arcola Masonic Lodge for 41 years, the Arcola VFW, the Arcola American Legion, the Danville Consistory, and the Shriners. He and Lola were Grand Marshals for the Broomcorn Festival in 1996, Joe was Rotary Citizen of the Year in 2010 and in 2015 Joe was accompanied by his step-granddaughter Kari Knowles on a Land of Lincoln Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Joe was a member of the Arcola United Methodist Church and has held many offices there.

Memorial may be made to the Arcola Boy Scouts, Arcola Lions Club, Arcola United Methodist Church or the Arcola Masonic Lodge.