Robert Estes Hunt died Dec. 21. He was 89.

Hunt, a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force, was born Jan. 14, 1920 in Shreveport, La., and helped support his family while coming of age during the Great Depression. He left Rice University to join the service during WWII; flying 40 combat missions in B-26 Marauders.

In 1943, while flying over North Africa, anti-aircraft fire forced a bail-out and subsequent rescue by the RAF. He protected America’s freedom in far away places including Panama and Venezuela until 1963.

On his 80th birthday, Hunt did a free-fall parachute jump accompanied by his son Bob, nephew Herb Fischer, and grandson Sean Boyer. The next day, he climbed Mt. Philchuck at a gallop.

With first wife Betty, he raised Robert (Janet) and Judith (Kitsap County Sheriff Steve Boyer) as loving children and good citizens.

Hunt had the good fortune to meet and woo Patricia Huff who consented to marriage in 1980. They took an early 30th anniversary to Hawaii, went zip-lining and enjoyed wonderful loving walks on the beach.

An online memorial is available at www.flintofts.com.