Robert Leonard Hunt

heaven. He was born June 24, 1938, in Phoenix to Carl and Evelyn

(Kindred) Hunt. He attended Creighton Elementary schools and was in

the first class for the new Camelback High School. His mother passed

away during his sophomore year and he transferred to Peoria, graduating

from Peoria High School in 1956. Bob had close ties to the Kindred

family and spent lots of fun times with them, and then his family circle

grew to include his stepmother’s Dille family from the west side of

Phoenix. After graduation he attended and graduated from ASU in 1963

with a degree in Agronomy. He was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho and

the Rodeo Club.

In 1960, he married the one he always said brought sunshine into his life,

Jane Wagner, from Prescott. Together they raised two sons, Steve and

John, who followed their dad into the agricultural chemical business and

in his love of roping. Bob worked with growers in the Casa Grande area

after graduation and in 1966 relocated to Buckeye where he remained

until his death.

From an early age, he found real pleasure around horses and in the roping

arena. He was a member of the West Pinal and the Westside Maricopa

Sheriff’s Posses and was a founding member of the Buckeye Valley

group. He was active with his sons, not only in this hobby, but as a Cub

Scout leader and a Little League coach. He was a member of the Casa

Grande and Buckeye Elks lodges, the Lions Club and Buckeye

Community Church for many years. Since 1978, Bob has been an active

participant and a local Rodeo Committee member of the National Senior

Pro Rodeo Association. In recognition of his efforts, he was inducted into

the NSPRA Hall of Fame in 2014 at their Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Barbara Jane (Jane), his two sons

and their families which include 6 Grandchildren and 7 Great

Grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am on

Saturday, October 26th, at Grace Fellowship Church, 6500 S. Miller Rd,

in Buckeye with internment to follow at Louis B. Hazelton Cemetery.

Bob was a big supporter of the local food bank and veterans, so any

contribution in his memory to either of these would be an appropriate

tribute.