George W. Hunter passed away at home in Branchburg, NJ on Monday, January 17, 2022,
following a brief battle with cancer. Predeceased by his parents, George M. and Elsie H. Hunter,
and his sister Claire "Bunny" Finlay. Survived by his devoted wife of over 53 years, Linda M.
Hunter; his cherished daughters and sons-in-law, Heather & Chris Smith of Pittsford, NY; Amy &
Mike Shorter of Flemington, NJ; and Megan & Matt Ruf of Lambertville, NJ; his beloved
grandchildren, Emma "Jesse" Smith, Hunter and Owen Shorter, and Kirsten, Shelby and Jackson
Ruf; his niece and nephew Tracy (Roy) Impink and Scott (Kathy) Capwell, close-as-family friends
the Bielefeldts; many cousins and friends near and far; and his loyal dog, Savannah.
George grew up on Lake Hopatcong, where he developed his love for sailing, fishing and his
ability to whistle loudly enough to be heard for miles across water or land alike. George
graduated from Sparta High School, where he honed his athletic abilities on the football and
track and field teams, and where he once coaxed a cow he "borrowed" from a nearby farm up
onto the school roof. After graduating from Sparta High School (and after the cow was
successfully retrieved from the roof and returned to the farm), George went on to study at
Hiram College and then enlisted in the US Navy, serving on the aircraft carrier USS Essex as a
radio man and pilot. Following his Navy service, George married the love of his life, Lin, and
began a successful career in sales and marketing, which took them to homes in Syracuse NY,
Sparta NJ and Lakewood NY before settling at Still Meadow Farm in Branchburg NJ, where they
would remain from 1979 on. George traveled the world, first in the Navy and then in his
business career, which dovetailed nicely with his passion for photography. George's keen eye
and artistic ability meant hundreds of amazing photographs to share with family and friends of
far-flung destinations around the US as well as Europe, Asia and Africa. Along with the travel
photos, George could be counted on for capturing family life, ever present with his camera bag
slung over his shoulder on the sidelines at his children and grandchildren's sporting events, in
the audience at their plays and concerts, and at 4H fairs. He could also be counted on to wake
up his girls with a booming rendition of "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" while accompanying
himself with a pot and spoon when they were trying to sleep in. George loved to keep busy and
to be helpful as best he could. He helped with his girls' 4H club and Girl Scout troops (winning
the "Parent who Sold the Most Girl Scout Cookies" awards at work several years in a row – he
was really good at sales and marketing) and he ran the Bridgewater United Methodist Church's
senior youth group with Lin for several years. George pitched in wherever he could lend a hand,
building a playground for the preschool at BUMC, building sets for his girls' school shows,
chaperoning trips and driving band equipment all over the northeast for competitions and
festivals. George had a keen sense of humor and could strike up a conversation with anyone,
anywhere in the world. He was a master at cooking on the grill and in planning April Fools'
jokes. He could drive like Mario Andretti or the Dukes of Hazzard, which was both thrilling and
terrifying for the passengers in his car. He taught his girls to ski and ice skate, and how to change
a tire and check the oil along with how to drive. He taught them that it never hurts to ask and
the worst that can happen is someone says no. In the summers down the Jersey shore, he
taught them how to fish, how to go crabbing, how to build the best "drip drip" sandcastles and
how to spit cherry pits just so from a moving car so that they could hit a passing street sign
while going over 35mph. He could fly a kite higher or make a sled slide faster than anyone we
knew.
Once the girls were grown and the sheep and goats they'd raised through the 80s and 90s were
traded in for ornamental gourds and Christmas trees, George and Lin took up kayaking and
loved nothing more than throwing the kayaks on the roof of the car, loading up the dog and the
camera bag, and going out for a drive to find a spot to drop the kayaks in for a paddle. They also
continued to spend time at the Jersey shore, especially in Cape May. George instituted
"Summer Rules" for car rides, which when invoked, meant that the person calling them could
stop the car for anything they wanted, be that a garage sale or flea market (George could find a
treasure in anyone's junk) an ice cream stand or an antique shop.
George's passing leaves his family and friends bereft, and a hole in our hearts that will never
quite be filled. His family asks that you remember George by sharing one of the myriad stories
of his shenanigans and adventures, or his many kindnesses, and by invoking Summer Rules the
next time you are out for a drive. A Celebration of George's life will be held on Saturday, January
22nd at 11:00 am at Bridgewater United Methodist Church, 651 Country Club Rd. Bridgewater,
NJ. Family and friends are invited to a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers,
donations can be made in honor of George's life at Samaritan Homeless Interim Program