Edward “Ed” E. Hults, 84, of Southern Pines, Naperville, Ill., and a part-time resident of Huntingdon, died early Sunday morning, Oct. 21, 2012, in Pinehurst. His health declined following spinal surgery Aug. 21.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at the Stone Church of the Brethren, Huntingdon, with the Rev. Dale and the Rev. Christy Dowdy officiating. Interment will be in the Naperville Cemetery, Naperville, Ill. Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.
Born Sept. 10, 1928, in Chicago, he was the son of the late Harold E. and Mildred (Burgard) Hults. He was first married to the former Barbara Ann Searle, Nov. 16, 1957, in LaGrange, Ill. She preceded him in death April 5, 2003. He was later united in marriage to Doris J. Comerford on Dec. 10, 2005, at the Stone Church of the Brethren, Huntingdon. His wife survives.
Mr. Hults is also survived by his children, Richard C. Hults and his wife, Karen, of Wesley Chapel, and Cheryl Ann Coffman, of Glen Burnie, Md.; his stepchildren, John R. Comerford and David M. Comerford and his wife, Beth, all of Virginia Beach, Va., and Jean E. Corbin, of Huntingdon; two grandchildren, Courtney Hults and Justin Hults; 10 stepgrandchildren, Sean and Erin Comerford and Zachary, Valarie, Lucas, Lexis, Iesha, Daisha, Wyatt and Giovanni Corbin; and two stepgreat-grandchildren, Zayden Davis and Emma Corbin.
A stillborn daughter, Carol Ann Hults, preceded him in death.
Mr. Hults was a member of the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Naperville, and attended the Stone Church of the Brethren while in Huntingdon. He enlisted in the United States Army and served in the occupation army on Kyushu Island, Japan. Mr. Hults later joined the Army Reserves and was called back to serve in the Korean War in 1950. He served as an instructor at Fort Ord, Calif.
Mr. Hults volunteered as a Boy Scout leader and Little League Baseball coach.
He was a 1946 graduate of Naperville High School, where he lettered in football and track, and a 1950 graduate of Bryant and Stratton College, Chicago. He also attended IBM training classes. Mr. Hults retired from employment at International Harvester, now known as Navistar, as an information systems manager.
He enjoyed reading, especially about the history of the Civil War and World War II. Mr. Hults also enjoyed traveling, visiting national historical sites, baseball, watching his grandchildren’s baseball games and visiting his family and friends. He was an Illinois football fan and a fan of the Chicago Cubs.
Memorial contributions may be made to Operation Homefront, 8930 Fourwinds Drive, Suite 340, San Antonio, TX 78239; the Illinois Foundation, designate history/library; Naperville Cares; Huntingdon County Library; Nichols Library, Naperville, Ill.; or to the library of the donor’s choice.