David Walter Hunt

In Loving Memory

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved family member and friend, Dave Hunt, on November 5, 2025. Dave was born in San Diego, California on June 10, 1948, near his hometown of Julian.

At the age of 2, Dave's family moved to Oregon, living in Aumsville then Winston where Dave finished high school and eventually began a career with the US Forest Service. His many assignments included road maintenance, road design, and fire suppression. The USFS proved to be his favorite job as it took him out in the woods while surrounding him with many wonderful people that were more family than co-workers. The majority of his USFS career, over 20 years, was spent in Sweet Home.

In 1988, he married Liz Watson whom he followed to the Siskiyou National Forest in Grants Pass and then to Salem at which time he left the USFS. While leaving the USFS was difficult, fate had important work in store for him. Dave landed back with the federal government, working for the Indian Health Service across western Oregon. With his engineering skills, unassuming nature and dry sense of humor, he was a good fit and excelled in the position. He felt honored to assist Native Americans in obtaining potable water and/or sewer and septic systems, positively impacting their lives forever. For the record, though, the federal bureaucracy drove him crazy.

In 1996, the family welcomed a daughter, Carlee. Together they spent many wonderful days playing and watching soccer along with other family adventures. While they started out as Timbers fans, they eventually became avid Thorns fans.

Born with a quick wit, generous spirit and a gentle heart, Dave touched the lives of everyone around him.

Dave is survived by a loving family including his daughter Carlee of Salem, sisters Linda Lee Scharpf of Camas and Wendy Crane (Dave) of Salem, former wife Liz Hunt of Salem, many nieces and nephews and his beloved dog Luna. He was preceded in death by his parents Lee and Carmen and his brother-in-law Ray Scharpf.