Hunter A. Poole

Raleigh - Hunter A. Poole, Sr., (90) died August 24, 2018, of complications associated with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 62 years Olive Virginia Poole, and his two sons, Hunter A. Poole, Jr., and David A. Poole and his wife Michelle. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carey Hunter Poole, and Melissia (May) R. Poole and by brothers Arthur Lee Poole and Charles David Poole. Hunter is an honorably discharged World War II veteran who served in the Army Air Corp 1946-1949. He was stationed in Germany and took part in Operation Vittles (The Berlin Airlift). After service, Hunter graduated from NC State with a BS in Industrial Engineering and as a commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. His work as a plant engineer eventually took him to Staunton, Virginia with the Basic-Witz Furniture Company where he met his future wife, Olive. In 1958, Hunter was hired as a Research Analyst for what was known as the NC Department of Conservation Development. He was very proud of his career with the State of North Carolina where he served its citizens in the location of nearly 150 industries. His work eventually afforded the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the world, and he was given the privilege of starting the International Section for then Governor Holshouser. He was particularly proud that three months after his departure from the Department of Commerce in 1985, Hunter was asked by the president of the Beneteau Company in St. Hilliare, France if he would come to France and help the Chamber of New Rochelle create an international department. After retiring from the State of NC, he worked for 10 years in Robeson County where he was in charge of Economic Development. Should anyone wish to contribute in Hunter’s memory, he was devoted to helping people through Habitat for Humanity and The Salvation Army. A memorial service will be held at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 831 Wake Forest Rd in Raleigh, NC 27604 at 11AM Saturday, September 8, 2018.