Obituary of Hugh Hunton

The family of Hugh Hunton Hurst, Jr. shares his passing to the great baseball diamond in the sky on December 30, 2016 at the age of 85. Hugh is predeceased by his wife of 52 years Patricia (Struble) Hurst. Hugh was an active participant in the lives of his four children Thomas Hurst (wife Colleen) of Sodus MI, Jeffrey Hurst ( Robin) of Bloomingburg NY, Karin (Hurst) Skarka ( Brian) of Ballston Spa, NY, and Christopher Hurst ( Carrie) of New Windsor NY. He was active in the lives of his grandchildren teaching them the values of hard work and perseverance. They are Katie (Hurst) Schultz and Rachel Hurst; Dylan, Trevor, and Nicholas Hurst; Paul and Kraig Skarka; Morgan, Connor, Mackenzie, and Kaylie Hurst. At his passing, Hugh had three great grandchildren. Hugh loved athletics, playing soccer, basketball and baseball at Ithaca College before serving in the United States Army in Occupied Germany. He continued his athletic pursuits overseas returning to the US to teach and coach at Fort Plain High School for seven years. Hugh returned to his Alma Matter, Ithaca College to coach basketball and baseball while sharing his love of teaching and the outdoors as a Physical Education Professor. Later, Hugh was the Athletic Director for the Valley Central School District in Montgomery, NY where he shared his passion for fairness and safety for student athletes advocating for increased opportunities for girls in sports and trainings for coaches to keep athletes safe. Throughout his lifetime, Hugh championed the underdog and taught those around him the importance of making time to stay connected to the people you care about- often in a fishing boat, at a golf course, or at the horse racing track. Calling Hours will be from 6:00 PM – 8:00PM on January 20, 2017 at Gridley-Horan Funeral Home, 39 Orchard Street in Walden NY. A Funeral Mass will take place at St. Paul’s Church, 2800 Route 17 K, Bullville, NY on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at 11:00 AM. Burial will immediately follow at the Orange County Veterans Cemetery, 111 Craigville Rd., Goshen NY. A reception will follow.