John Hurst Sr.

1929 - 2018

John William (Billy) Hurst passed away, after a night of resting and interacting comfortably, and listening to his favorite country music, on the morning of April 13th, 2018, at the John Keever Solace Center in Asheville, NC, where he had been living with his daughter Gail and her family for the past four years.
He was born on Dec 18th, 1929, to John Isaac and Sara Aman Hurst in Duck Creek, NC, on a farm on the edge of the ocean. He lived there on the farm, among farms of many relatives, until 1941, when the whole family's land was taken to develop Camp LeJeune, after which they lived in Swansboro. He spent several years in military school, then graduated from Swansboro HS, after which he joined the Army when only 16 y/o.
After serving as a paratrooper as a part of the Army of Occupation of Japan just after WWII, he attended Elon College and North Carolina State College, graduating in Mechanical Engineering. While a student, he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Patty Sewell, and they started their family.
He then went to Chrysler Institute of Engineering in Michigan, earning a Master's degree in Automotive Engineering. He worked for Chrysler for 34 years, becoming the Chief Engineer of the Marine and Industrial Division, and developing a number of inventions and patents, and running an international research group. During these years, they had three more children. He was the founder and president of the Eximious Flying Club, and enjoyed piloting small planes and gyrocopters.
He never lost his love of the land, and never forgot his Carolina Coastal roots, and when he retired in 1988, he moved back home to the Carolina Coast in Onslow County. He and Patty ran a fitness gym, and a funnel cake stand at festivals, and they square danced with the Swansboro High Tiders. He and his son ran an insulation business.
His wife Patty passed away in 2010, after 57 years of marriage. They are survived by four children, Dr. Rebecca Gail P Hyde (Lee) of Asheville, Sarah Anne Maxwell (Dennis) of Oriental, Sandra Diane Hurst of Newport, and John Jr of Hubert; 10 grandchildren, Kate, Zach (Caitlin Browne), Caleb (Krista), Leah (Josh Duffer), Lem, and Avery (Ivy) Hyde, Dr. Charley (Gina) Maxwell, and Lilliana and Austin Hurst; eight great-grandchildren, Leroy, Luther, and Daisy Hollifield, Orion and Theseus Pike, Isla Rose Duffer, and Olivia and Parker Maxwell; and a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins. One grandson, True (Betsy) Pike passed before him.
He will be long remembered as a hard-working, intelligent, creative man, and a loving dedicated husband, father, and grandfather. We will greatly miss his winning smile and sparkling blue eyes.
Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Apr 21st at Jones Funeral Home in Swansboro. Service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22nd at First Baptist Church of Swansboro, with graveside gathering in Jacksonville City Cemetery to follow. Offerings of flowers will be appreciated, or donations to organizations meaningful to him: the Experimental Aircraft Assoc, the Veterans of Underage Military Service, the Memorial to the Former Landowners of Camp LeJeune land, First Baptist Church of Swansboro, and Solace Center of Asheville.
Condolences may be left at Jonesfh.org.