WILMINGTON — Steven Lawrence Hunnicutt, 76, of Wilmington, NC, passed away Sunday, August 4, 2024, following several years of declining health due to Dementia in the arms of his loving wife of 47 years, Betty Martin Hunnicutt. He was born December 5, 1947 in Leaksville, NC to Beverly Bland and Kathleen Priddy Hunnicutt.
Along with his wife, Betty, Steven is survived by his brothers Mike Hunnicutt of Clemmons, NC, and Phillip Hunnicutt of Eden, NC, sister, Doris and husband, Brion Au of Huntsville, Alabama. He is also survived by a son Steven Paul Hunnicutt, a daughter Lisa Thornburg Ruark and stepson Steven Christopher Stanley of Riverview, Florida and three grandchildren, Ariel Thornburg, Gabriel Ruark and Parker Stanley, along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
After leaving the US Air Force as a guided missile systems mechanic, he continued his love for mechanical work traveling all over the state working on forklift systems while attending college for business administration and architecture. He eventually realized that he would never be content working in an office atmosphere and after moving to Wilmington, NC in the mid 80’s he found his passion; working on boats and boat motors for Crocker’s Marine in Wrightsville Beach, NC and taking his own boat out into the intracoastal waterway fishing with his friends or just watching the dolphins run on a lazy Sunday afternoon. As many of his closest friends will attest to, his goal in life was to never be forgotten, whether it was pulling pranks on people, showing up at the businesses he dealt with, with a huge bag of breakfast biscuits or his comical way of bartering for his next project to work on. He was one of a kind and truly will never be forgotten.
The family wishes to give their sincere appreciation to the friends and neighbors that helped along the way as well as all the people at Liberty HomeCare & Hospice, Home Instead Senior Care and The Lower Cape Fear Life Center all located in Wilmington, NC and The Department of Veterans Affairs for their expert care provided to the family.
A small, private family ceremony in his honor is being planned in his hometown of Eden, NC.
If you wish to make a donation in his honor, the family suggests the Alzheimers Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601 or The Dementia Society of America, Post Office Box 600 Doylestown, PA 18901 to help fight this cruel disease.
