Charles Hunt

Charles Lewis Hunt, 74, passed away peacefully Monday, May 25, 2009 surrounded by his family in Olathe, Kansas. He is survived by his dear wife of 56 years, Norma (Kendall); daughters Terri Keel (Keith) and Diana Henderson; sons Charles, Jr. (Carol), Richard (Janet) and Kenneth; sisters Mary Frances Toy of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky and Anna Katherine Gillen of Middleton, Ohio; 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Raymond Hunt of Georgetown, Kentucky and Virgie Hunt of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, four half-brothers and two half-sisters.



Charlie was born on March 4, 1935 in Mt. Sterling, KY. Charlie was 14 when he discovered his love for driving a truck and began hauling tobacco and livestock behind the wheel of a 1949 Diamond Rio. He was 17 when he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was eventually stationed at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas. It was there that he met and pursued the love of his life, Norma Jean Kendall. They married on August 17, 1953 in Topeka, Kansas. Charlie and his young family initially lived in Topeka, Kansas before moving to the Metro Kansas City area in the early 1960's where they finally settled in Olathe, Kansas in 1977 where Charlie lived the remainder of his life.



After Charlie was honorably discharged from the Air Force in January 1956, he repaired and installed household appliances until 1962, when his love for truck driving was rekindled. He went to work for Little Audrey's in 1962 hauling "swingin" beef to the West Coast and fresh produce back to the Midwest. In the following years he was employed by Foremost McKesson and Royal Transport and retired from Amoco Oil in 1997 after a long and successful career in the trucking industry.



Charlie Hunt was one of the original pioneers that helped build the renowned reputation of the American trucker. He was the man that would stop and help a stranger change a flat tire on the side of the road, feed a fellow trucker who couldn't afford a hot meal, and rescue victims of a car accident before help arrived. His big heart and brave soul made him a true unsung hero of our highways, one of the original "Knights of the Road."



Charlie cherished the time he spent at home with his family. He loved country music, cowboy movies, playing a friendly game of poker, giving advice, talking, laughing, and joking with friends and family, and sitting on his haunches next to a warm fire with a grandchild on his knee.




Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 28, 2009 at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, 14275 S. Blackbob Rd, Olathe, Kansas. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 29, 2009 at the funeral home. Graveside service will follow at Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens, 23215 W. 75th St., Shawnee, Kansas, 66227