Warren "Hosie" Hunter

Warren “Hosie” Hunter, Jr., was born on August 22, 1942, in Sparkman, Arkansas to the union of Alene Craig Hunter and Warren Hunter, Sr.

Warren was an inquisitive child fascinated by all things motorized and would stop at nothing to figure out what made things tick. After dismantling, he found joy and satisfaction in putting things back together again, not necessarily to the factory specifications, but it would work, safely.

Warren became a member of First Baptist Church, Sparkman, Arkansas at a young age, where he served as a Junior Deacon, learned the teachings of the Bible, and accepted Christ as his personal Savior. After years of working hard and playing hard, Warren rededicated his life to Christ as a member of St. Ruth Missionary Baptist Church, Arkadelphia, AR. Warren was ordained as a deacon and has served as Liaison for the trustee board, chairman of the deacon board, briefly sang with the St Ruth Male Chorus, and worked closely with the contractors on the rebuild of St. Ruth Missionary Baptist Church in 2004.

Warren and Geneva met at Sparkman Training School, in Sparkman, AR, where they quickly fell in love and married on October 30, 1962, recently celebrating 60 years of marriage. To this union, 3 children were born. Warren was a proud father and husband and worked hard to support his family, both emotionally and financially. The support he provided his family was no small feat but came easily for him because he was an exceptionally easygoing, kind, thoughtful man and a very hard worker.

Warren worked at Ray White Lumber Co. Sparkman, AR, and International Paper in Manning, AR, before going to work at Reynolds Aluminum in 1968.  Warren then moved his young family from Sparkman to the family community of Gum Springs in 1970, where they were welcomed with open arms. While working at Reynolds, he earned certifications as a Machinist, Millwright, Welder, and Blueprint Reader. Warren also worked as a tow truck driver, hauling billets, repairing cars, lawn mowers, and hauling scrap metal. He even co-owned a small gas station and repair shop for a few years. Warren retired from Reynolds Aluminum in 2000 not too long after returning from a 5-year relocation to Troutdale, Oregon.

Warren Served for many years as president of Sparkman Training School Reunion and president of the Owens Hunting Club.

Warren enjoyed traveling with his wife to visit with family, but one of his greatest joys was spending time at “The Shed”, where he welcomed many of his friends, young and old alike to sit and talk for hours about, life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and ‘Hosie, what is wrong with my mower?’.

Warren was called by many names; Deacon, Dec, Wern, Hosea, SaSa, Bread, Hoss, and Hosie, but his most cherished title was PaPa.

Warren lived an amazing life, filled with far more great days than bad. He passed on to be with his Savior Tuesday, December 6, 2022. He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Roy Lee Hunter, and Joyce (BeeBe) Fulsom, and granddaughter Danielle Dennis.

His kindness and love will be cherished forever in the hearts of his wife, Geneva O. Hunter; his children, Janice Hunter-Dennis(Robert) of Arkadelphia, AR, Warren T. Hunter Sr., Arkadelphia, AR, Rochelle Hunter-James(McKenzie) of Happy Valley, OR; his grandchildren, James III (Porschia), Warren T. Jr, Kovenant (Emily), Tiana, Jalen, Kamelita; great-grandchildren, Aijah, James IV, Warren, Nova, Noir, Collin; his siblings, Robert Hunter(Mary) of Raleigh, NC and Easter Whitfield of Detroit, MI., his St. Ruth Church family, neighbors, dear friends and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews. 

Public visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 16, 2022 at the funeral home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at St. Ruth Baptist Church in Gum Springs. A celebration of his life will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Jamal Brown, eulogist. Interment will be at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Pine Grove, Arkansas.

Active pallbearers will be James Combs, III., Warren T. Hunter, Jr., Kovenant James, Jalen Hunter, Monroe Lucas, Kobey Buckley, Geoffrey Owens and Alfred Owens, Jr. Honorable to mention are his lifelong friends, the Owens Hunter Club and Reynolds\Alcoa Family.