Bobby Y. Hunt, former Barren County Coroner and funeral home operator, died at NHC Healthcare Sunday, April 4, 2021. Hunt was 79 years old.
CAVE CITY, Ky. — Bobby Y. “Bob” Hunt, a former Barren County Coroner and area funeral home operator, has died.
Hunt died at NHC Health Care in Glasgow Easter Sunday, according to his obituary.
Hunt was born in Barren County Nov. 14, 1941. He was the only child to his parents, Young and Ceatrice P. Hunt.
Bob met Linda G. Jolly at Caverna High School. The two married in 1964.
Hunt attended the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in Louisville. He graduated in 1963 and worked at Rogers Funeral Home in Clarkson, Ky.
“When the opportunity came to purchase the Gardner Funeral Home in their home town of Cave City, they opened the Bob Hunt Funeral Chapel in the former Jolly’s Restaurant in January 1970,” according to Hunt’s obituary.
Bob began his community service career providing Cave City with ambulance service for many years prior to the formation of the Barren-Metcalfe County Ambulance Service.
Bob served on the Cave City Fire Department’s staff. He was promoted to fire chief in the mid-1970s and served in the role for 21 years.
“Under his leadership, the Cave City Fire Department built the station where they continue to house their equipment today,” the obituary said. “His department was the first volunteer fire squad in the BRADD area to acquire the Jaws of Life rescue tool used to free entrapped victims from wreckage.”
Former President Ronald Reagan visited Mammoth Cave National Park, and Hunt’s department was asked to be the official department on scene to welcome the late leader.
Hunt was also elected mayor of Cave City after he was fire chief. His time as the city’s leader included several lasting efforts such as widening Interstate 65 and beginning Cave City’s garbage collection agency. The agency allowed pickup costs to decrease.
Bob is survived by his wife Linda. A special young man, Corey W. Lohden, “whom they called their grandson,” also survives.
Funeral services are scheduled April 7 and 1 p.m. at the Bob Hunt Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow in the Cave City Cemetery.
A visitation will be at the funeral home Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. There will also be a visitation at 10 a.m. Wednesday until time for the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Cave City Fire Department or the Cave City Cemetery.
To view Bob Hunt’s full obituary, click here.