Eugene "Gene" Ryland Hunt
Eugene “Gene” Ryland Hunt, 97, of Amherst, passed peacefully into the arms of his Lord on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at his home, surrounded by the family he loved so dearly.
Born to the late E.M. and Myrtle Hunt, Gene was also preceded in death by his beloved wife, Helen Lamb Hunt, and his siblings, Roy Hunt, Sr. and Ruth Ellinger.
Early in life Gene served four years in the U.S. Air Force, and later retired from the Lynchburg Foundry after years of dedicated service. In his retirement, he shared a deep passion for travel with his wife, his sister-in-law Lucy, and his brother-in-law Granville. Together, they explored the country, allowing Gene to achieve the remarkable milestone of visiting every single state in the union. A man of steadfast faith, Gene was a lifelong and devoted member of Amherst Baptist Church.
Above all, Gene will be remembered for his fierce love and devotion to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In his golden years, he became the family's cherished historian, possessing a unique knack for storytelling. He frequently reminisced about his youth, including his many visits to the Academy of the Arts.
One of his family's absolute favorite tales was about the historic Hotel Virginian: as the story goes, someone unscrewed the lightbulbs for the letters “tel” and “ian” on a Friday night, leaving a hilarious welcome for motorists crossing the James River Bridge into Lynchburg.
Gene found immense joy in life’s simple pleasures. He cherished the annual family beach trip each June, but it was his weekly routines that anchored him. He looked forward to Monday mornings spent with his youngest son, Bobby, who always cooked him a delicious breakfast or early lunch. By Wednesday mornings, he was ready for coffee with his son, Larry, and good friend, Mack, to solve the world's problems and talk about current events. And he spent countless Fridays and Sundays sitting on the porch, reminiscing about the old days with his brother-in-law and best friend, Granville.
Left to cherish his memory are his two sons, Larry Eugene Hunt and his wife, LuAnn of Amherst, and Robert Ryland Hunt and his wife, Angie of Madison Heights; his four grandchildren, Chris Hunt (Megan) of Southern Pines, NC, Candice (Dan) Knezevic of Charlotte, NC, Lauren Hunt of Charlottesville, VA, and Jason Hunt (Andrea, fiancé) of Amherst, VA; four adored great-grandchildren; his brother-in-law, Granville Shrader of Amherst; and a host of loving nieces, nephews and friends.
The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Westminster Canterbury Hospice for the excellent and compassionate care they provided during Gene's final days.
Please join us in celebrating Gene's long and beautiful life on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Amherst Baptist Church. Family and friends are welcome for visitation at 10:00 AM, with the memorial service beginning at 11:00 AM. A reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
