Col. Sanford B. Hunt, USMC, Ret., died at home on Wednesday, Dec. 17. Cremation is under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home. Memorial church services will be held at Cumberland Presbyterian Church with Pastor Pat Driskell officiating on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 1 p.m.

Col. Hunt is survived by his wife of 58 years, Helen Smith Hunt; his daughter, Sandra Stanek and her husband Ronald of New Jersey; his son, Sanford B. Hunt, IV, and his wife Oanh of Lubbock; his daughter, Leslie Hunt-Bond of Lubbock; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Born in Newark, N.J., on Oct. 18, 1915, Col. Hunt graduated from high school in Santa Cruz, Calif., in 1935. His military career spanned 29 years including four years in the U.S. Naval Reserve V-3 program in Santa Cruz. On Oct. 8, 1940, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in Newark, N.J., and was immediately called to active duty and subsequently assigned to the 1st Marine Division. He received a field commission in New Zealand. For his achievement in establishing the base radio station on Guadalcanal on Aug. 7, 1942, when personnel designated to do so failed to land, and keeping it in operation until Sept. 15, 1942, when other personnel took over, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V.

In addition to World War II, he served in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. For the latter he was awarded the Legion of Merit. He was also presented the Vietnam Honor Medal First Class and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Palm. Overall his duties took him from Cuba to Tientsin, China, the British Isles, Europe, the Mediterranean and Red Sea areas, Japan, Korea and Vietnam. He had the thrill of setting up alternate communications for President Eisenhower's visit to Pakistan circa 1961 and traveling on a signal command ship through the Suez Canal.

On retirement from active duty at Camp Pendleton, Calif., he sought out civic positions for which he could qualify and served in numerous capacities, including as an elected director of the Poway Municipal Water District with related committees and commissions in the state of California, the San Diego County Assessment Appeals Board, and the San Diego County Special Districts Advisory Committee.

He found his true niche working as a volunteer in the Poway Station of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and was later offered the paid position of Special Deputy. His badge No. 1 was retired and presented to him for service from 1973 to 1981. It was only natural for him to visit the Police Department when he and Helen moved to Lubbock in 1985. After nine years of professional volunteer service to the Lubbock Police Department, he was awarded an official City of Lubbock retirement watch. These are only highlights of a dedicated, active life. He was a man of strong opinions and a generous heart, much loved by his family and friends.

The family suggests contributions to the Vietnam Center Fund at Texas Tech University.