In a farmhouse outside of Bangs, Texas, Charles Ervin Hunter, was born on September 25, 1945. Charlie passed peacefully into heaven while sleeping at his Lake Brownwood home on January 9, 2022, with his beloved Chow, Bear, by his side. He was 76 years old. Charlie was always known for his smiling face and big heart. He never met a stranger and every person in the world was just a friend he had not yet met.
Charlie attended primary school in Bangs. As a freshman, his family moved to Brownwood where he went to high school and played football as a lineman under Coach Gordon Wood. His passion for football continued throughout his life. In his later years, he enjoyed watching college and NFL football on TV. Although the Denver Broncos was his favorite NFL team, Charlie went to sleep happy on the last night of his life because the Dallas Cowboys, another team he always rooted for, had beat the Eagles.
Known on the CB radio as “Windmill,” Charlie loved driving trucks in a career spanning almost six decades. Through the years spent behind the wheel, he hauled every type of load one could imagine and drove over a million miles without an accident. Charlie loved his work; the places it took him, the many experiences he had along the way, and people he met. When any of Charlie’s family or friends were traveling and needed directions, they could always count on him to get them their turn for turn because of his trucking experience in the United States and Canada.
Charlie had many great times listening and dancing to country-western music while enjoying “a cold beer or two.” He was always the life of the party. Settling down “somewhat” later in life, he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior having made a public profession of faith by being baptized. Last Christmas, he asked his children for a cross necklace which he never took off and wore close to his heart until his final breaths were taken on this earth.
Charlie was widowed in 2019 from his wife of 24 years, Carol Johansen Hunter. Carol was affectionately known by Charlie as “Baby-Rue” which was her CB handle. They met in 1995 and in 1997, were married. Charlie taught Carol how to drive a big rig and she soon joined him on the road for many years. They settled at Lake Brownwood where they spent their remaining days together watching football, mowing, and caring for each other.
Charlie was also preceded in death by his parents Bill and Edna Mae Hunter, brothers Claude and Bo Hunter, and a nephew George Hunter.
Charlie is survived by; a sister Billie Hunter Brown of Belton, Texas, his son’s Hank and Charlie Hunter, daughter Sharla Hunter Hyles, and their mother Sue Moore Hunter of Brownwood, daughter’s Dustie Wiser of El Paso and Rebecca Ann Hunter of Van, Texas, and from his marriage with Carol two stepdaughters that were truly like his own, Shelbi Johansen McReynolds and Cassie Smith Siems, a stepson Shawn Johansen, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
For many years, Charlie enjoyed mowing the six acres at the local Boys & Girls Club. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Boys & Girls Club of Brown County, 1701 Avenue L, Brownwood, Texas, 76801. Thank you to Brownwood Funeral Home for performing the cremation. A celebration of Charlie’s life will be planned for May of 2022. Details to follow closer to that time.
