Mr. Henry Hunter

Mr. Henry Hunter of Raleigh, North Carolina went home to be with the Lord the morning of Thanksgiving, November 26, 2020. He was 80 years old.

The oldest of three children, Henry was born on June 20, 1940, in Bessemer, Alabama to the union of William Henry and Willie Mae Hunter.  In 1957, Henry made his way west to Los Angeles, California where he worked for the United States Post Office (USPS). While working for the USPS, he took courses at Los Angeles Community College studying computer engineering. In November of 1959, Henry enlisted in the United States Air Force (USAF). While enlisted, he continued to show interest in computer engineering and other emerging technologies along with a joy for travel which took him as far as Spain for a year in 1961/1962.  After being discharged from active duty with the USAF in 1963, Henry joined IBM where he served as a Systems Analyst for over 30 years. During his time with IBM, he was transferred to Raleigh, North Carolina in 1970. Upon retirement from IBM in 1993, he went back to school and received his Associates Degree in Computer Software from Wake Technical Community College and went on to work for OfficeMax until his second retirement in 2007. 

A devout Catholic, Henry was joined in holy matrimony to the former Rosa Ridgell. Both were members of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Durham, North Carolina. Over the years, Henry was an active volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. 

Henry is preceded in death by his father, William Henry Hunter, his mother Willie Mae Hunter, his brother Harold Hunter and his sister Carolyn McDow.  Henry leaves to cherish his precious memory a loving and dedicated wife, Rosa R. Hunter of Raleigh, NC; daughters, Valerie McGowan (Marc) of Eureka, CA and "NJS" of Raleigh, NC; son, Henry O. Hunter (Joi) of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Taylor Gibson, Londin Gibson, Julian McGowan, Alex McGowan, and Christian McGowan; great-granddaughters Amelie Gibson and Gwen McGowan; stepchildren Rhonda Simpson of Gardena, CA, Rodney Ridgell (Sveta) of Beaverton, OR, and Russell (Else) of Los Angeles, CA and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and cherished friends.  

Public viewing, Monday, December 14, 2020, 12 Noon to 8 PM at the funeral home.  Funeral, 11 AM, Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at Steven L. Lyons Funeral Home, 1515 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh. Visitation, 10:30 AM to 11 AM, prior to the service.  Interment, Eastern Carolina Veterans State Cemetery, Goldsboro.

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