Kendall Neill Hunter

Kendall Neill Hunter, age 91, of Arkadelphia died Friday, September 4, 2026. He was born January 4, 1935 to the late Harry Hodge and Nannie Louis (McCaskill) Hunter in Manchester, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte Strickland Hunter; and siblings, Nancy (Hunter) Rettig and Barbara (Hunter) Wasson. He was a 1952 graduate of Arkadelphia High School and a 1956 graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Engineering. He married Charlotte Strickland on September 5, 1955. Kendall was an active member and leader of Manchester United Methodist Church. For many years, Kendall was the chairman of Davidson Methodist Campground. He was a long-time member of the Manchester Rural Community Improvement Program, and a former member of the Arkadelphia School Board. Kendall was also a founding board member of River Valley Water Association. He was a previous part-owner of Hunter-Wasson Pulpwood and was a beloved rural mail carrier. Lastly, Kendall and his wife, Charlotte owned and operated the Hunter Christmas Tree Farm.

Survivors include his four children, Terri Hunter Bridges and her husband, Darrell of Clarksville, Arkansas, Neill Hunter and his wife, Kim of Madison, Alabama, Alec Hunter and his wife, Margaret Lynn; and Dorothy Hunter Daniell and her husband, Toby, all of Arkadelphia; 11 grandchildren, Rachel (Bridges) Walser, Luke Bridges, Phillip Bridges, Hannah (Bridges) Terenzoni, Darby Hunter, Charles Hunter, Hodge Hunter, Alexandria (Hunter) Breashears, Seth Daniell, Nathan Daniell, and Mollie (Daniell) Turner; great-grandchildren, Emma, Brody, and Charlotte Hunter, Hazel Hunter Storm, Claire, Lucy and Charlotte Walser, Ellis Terenzoni, and Baby Breashears (February 2027); sister, Pat (Hunter) Matthews, sister-in-law, Sarah Strickland; and brother-in-law, Virles Wasson.

Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at Ruggles-Wilcox Chapel. Funeral services are 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at Manchester United Methodist Church with Reverend Darrell Bridges and Reverend Tammy Harrell officiating. Burial will follow at Atchley Cemetery. Pallbearers are his grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Manchester United Methodist Church, c/o Mary Jo Jones, 1634 Highway 128, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71923 or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, P.O. Box 54879, Los Angeles, California 90054.

Arrangements are by Smith Family Funeral Home-Arkadelphia/Ruggles-Wilcox Chapel, www.smithfamilycares.com.