Hurst, Grace Eldred Meredith

Grace Eldred Meredith Hurst died peacefully at Covenant Woods, Mechanicsville, Va., on Sunday, April 29, 2007.

Bunny Hurst was born on May 21, 1920 at Hillcrest Farm in Pulaski County, Va. She was the eighth child for Grace Glovier and Ernest Claude Meredith. As the story goes, her five brothers called the new baby “Bunny”. She was not officially named Grace Eldred Meredith until she was about 18 months old. The legal name was little known to her family and friends; she was Bunny Hurst or Aunt Bunny to all who knew her and Hillcrest Farm was her home for more than 65 years before she and her husband, Charles, moved to Radford where he died in 1990.

After graduation from Draper High School, Bunny went to work for C&P Telephone Company in Radford, Va. where she worked for 30 years. It was in Radford that she met Charles Hurst and they were married on November 28, 1941. Every day from that date until 1970 when she retired, Bunny and Charles rode to work together … and every day he picked her up to go to lunch together … and at five o’clock he picked her up again for the ride home to the country. A most unusual story for a very unique couple!

Bunny Hurst is survived by Diana and her husband Phil Campbell of Sandy Hook, Va. along with their two daughters, Crystal Campbell Brooks, Sandston, Va., and Carmen Campbell Gray, Goochland, Va.; her son-in-law, Mike Johnston, Kernersville, N.C. and his daughter, Jill Johnston, Myrtle Beach, S.C. There are also six great-grandchildren, Jessica, Meredith, and Charlie Brooks, Deejay, Walter and Madilynn Gray. Her only living sibling is her sister, Janice Covey, Radford, Va. The extended Meredith-Hurst family includes numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Family visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mullins Funeral Home in Radford, Va. Mrs. Hurst’s funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 2, 2007 at Snowville Christian Church in Snowville, Va. with the Rev. Jonathon Webster. Entombment will be at Highland Memory Gardens Mausoleum in Dublin, Va.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be sent to Snowville Christian Church, 5436 Lead Mine Road, Hiwassee, Va., 24347 for the preservation of the Charles Hurst Memorial Pavilion. Memorial Service honoring her life will be held Thursday, May 3, 2007 at 3 p.m. at Covenant Woods, Mechanicsville, Va. The Hurst family is in the care of Mullins Funeral Home. www.mullinsfuneralhome.com