Albert Charles Hunt

December 19, 1917 - October 06, 2012

Albert Charles Hunt

December 19, 1917 - October 06, 2012

Obituary

Albert Charles Bert Hunt passed away October 6, 2012 in Bellingham. He was born December 19, 1917 in Glenboro, Manitoba to Adam and Alice Hunt. When Bert was three years old he moved Bellingham. He attended Lincoln and Franklin elementary schools, graduated from Whatcom High School, and attended Western Washington College of Education. Bert was drafted into the army, serving under General Patton in North Africa and Sicily. After recovering from an injury, he was sent to England where he was in the Military Police. After the army he completed his academic studies and graduated with a BA in German from the University of Washington and also a secondary certificate from University of Washington Oceanographic Station at Friday Harbor. He continued his education, completing his Masters Degree in Geology/Biological Sciences from Oregon State University. Bert was awarded the prestigious John Hay Fellowship at Columbia University, studying paleontology at the American Museum of Natural History. Bert was a lifelong scholar with interests in natural sciences, German language, music appreciation, literature, and French poetry. In 1970 he attended the University of Colorado in Boulder where he studied anthropology.

Bert began his career teaching science at Bellingham High School (1948-1960). During this time, Bert worked nine summers at the Grand Canyon as a ranger naturalist. From 1961-1965 he taught at both Norta Vista middle and high schools in Riverside California. In 1965 he taught at San Bernardino Community College, four years from a wheelchair, retiring in 1981. Bert traveled extensively in Mexico, and also to Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, and Crete.

Bert was an accomplished self-taught harmonica player delightfully playing frequently for his family, friends, and others. Often his musical talents were requested by numerous and varied audiences. He loved gardening, dancing, and taking his grandchildren to his favorite donut shop, Lafeens.

Bert was preceded in death by his first wife Katherine; his sister Ada and her husband Sam Leathers; and his step-daughter Kathy Knutson. He is survived by his wife Georgia Hunt; his sons David Albert Hunt and his son Jonathon; Allen G. Hunt (Bea Karthaus-Hunt) and their daughter Sanuye; his stepchildren: David (Diane) Knutson of Ferndale; Darrel (Hannelore) Knutson of Pinneberg Germany; John (Cindy) Knutson of Flagstaff AZ; Gene (Debbie) Knutson of Gig Harbor; Sheri (Don) Goebel of Bellingham; and grandchildren Jill, Joey, Holly, Nicole, Michelle, Alex, Amy, Maddie, Matthew, Anna, Haley, Sydney, Marley and Atticus.

Farewell Tribute Information

Memorial Service Friday, October 12, 3:00 PM, at Moles Farewell Tributes-Bellingham

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2 responses to Albert Charles Hunt

  1. John Ellis says:

    I was in Peace Health for surgery and when I woke up in the morning Bert was in the bed next to me. He was in pain so I prayed for his relief. We had some interesting conversations and Bert was quite a guy. He certainly loved Georgia and after he talked about her he never mentioned his pain again. I met Georgia very briefly when she came to the room and she told me Bert was going home once she recovered from her own problems & could look after him again. I visited Bert a couple of times in the next few months after he was in long term care – had a chance to listen to him play the mouth organ for everyone. He was a love able man & I pray he took the chance to get closer to God before he passed away.

  2. Lou Lippman says:

    My only contact with Bert was when I had been recruited to substitute for a few months for the piano player in the Senior Center’s Rhythm band. It was obvious that Bert was much beloved and appreciated by his fellow players and was a very sophsticated musician (surprising for a harmonica player). I greatly enjoyed my time with the group. But I especially appreciated it when Bert was called upon to play a solo. I have vivid memories of his performance of The Whistler And His Dog. It was utterly charming and showed refined musicianship. I’m happy to have the memories (and visual and auditory images) of Bert, and am so sorry to have learned of his passing.

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