Irene Katherine Hunter's Obituary
Irene Katherine Williamson Hunter, 96, of Oakland, California, passed away peacefully on August 3, 2023. She was born on March 25, 1927, in Piave, Mississippi, to Lonnie and Bessie Harmon Williamson.
The family soon after moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she was raised along with her three brothers and attended elementary and middle schools in Pittsburgh’s historic Wiley Street District. After graduating from Schenley High School in 1945, Irene convinced her parents to grant her permission to enlist in the United States military in 1951. After training she received orders for Alameda, California where she was committed to duty for four years as a Woman Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) for the US Navy. After her proud and honorable service, Irene continued her higher education at Heald Business College in Oakland and later studied Gerontology at Chabot College in Hayward, California.
In 1953, Irene met Nathanael Hunter of Alameda. They married in 1955 and extended their family tree with four children by rooting in Oakland. Irene lived in the same home on Thermal Street and thrived in the community for more than 67 years.
At an early age, she attended the Church of the Holy Cross in Pittsburgh and still participated in services during visits home. Irene was a woman of faith and found her home in the Episcopal Church and for more than 65 years. She was a devoted member of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in Oakland and served on numerous committees, including the Episcopal Church Women (ECW), St. Monica's Guild, and her beloved Altar Guild, where she took pride in caring for the altar, vestments and the decoration of the sanctuary with flowers.
Known affectionately as "Mrs. Hunter" or "Aunt Irene," she brought joy and adventure to those who knew her. Irene obtained her driver's license in 1969 and became the go-to person for shuttling family and friends throughout the Bay Area and California, rolling up in her station wagon.
Irene was a history buff, and in her free time, she enjoyed embarking on road trips, exploring new sites throughout the US, and creating lasting memories for her loved ones. She founded a company, Irene's Tours, and organized many excursions and fundraising trips for business organizations and private groups throughout California and Nevada. Some of the favorite repeat destinations were the Nevada casinos, in Reno, Laughlin, Las Vegas, and Lake Tahoe.
A sports enthusiast, Irene passionately cheered for Oakland’s Athletics, Raiders and Warriors and San Francisco’s Forty Niners and Giants while remaining loyal to Pittsburgh’s Steelers and Pirates. She also used her skills to score baseball games by hand and taught many young fans how to do the same.
She contributed to her community by serving on various committees, including the East Bay Motion Picture and Television Council, Bay Area League of Women Voters and the Oakland School District Parent Teacher Association, in various capacities for many years. Irene was also a dedicated poll tracker and watcher, recruiting her neighbors to join her in this civic duty. She had a strong affiliation with politics and volunteered numerous hours working on campaigns, voter registration, and encouraged people to get out and vote.
Irene is survived by her children, Monique W. Hunter and Natalie W. Hunter of Los Angeles, California, Laurence W. Hunter of New York, New York, and Katherine W. Hunter Hendon of Oakland, as well as her beloved granddaughter, Lauren Hunter Lapesarde of Los Angeles, her brother-in-law, Mike Hunter, and sisters-in-law, Rosa Hunter, Amelda Hunter and Vickie Hunter, and a host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Nathanael Hunter; her father, Lonnie Williamson; her mother, Bessie Harmon Williamson; and her brothers, James, Samuel, and Joseph Williamson.
Irene Katherine Hunter will be dearly missed by her family, friends, and all those whose lives she touched. All who knew her will fondly remember her dedication, love, and adventurous spirit.
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