James "Larry" Hunt passed away on June 23, 2025, at Riverside Regional Medical Center. He was 86 years old. Larry was born in February 1939 in Memphis, Tennessee. He grew up in Millport Alabama, the son of Orris Lee and Lottie Mae Hunt. He graduated from Mississippi State University with a BS in physics and MS in physics from William and Mary. Larry began a career at NASA in 1962 which spanned more than 30 years. He was the manager of the systems management office at NASA Langley Research Center and author or co-author on 73 articles and technical papers. During his career he received two special Achievement awards, five Certificates of Outstanding Performance and in 1990 awarded the NASA Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal. His most notable areas of expertise were the Aerospace plane and hypersonic air breathing scramjet powered vehicles.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Floyd Leonard. He is survived by his wife of 57 years Margaret; their son Tom and his wife Lynne, and their son, Matthew. He is also survived by his sister Katheryn Leonard; his nephew, Alan Leonard and his wife Ashley, and their daughter Aubrey.

Larry was an avid Dallas Cowboys and Mississippi State football fan and excelled in telling stories about growing up in Alabama, to the point where you thought you were there. He will be greatly missed.

The family will receive friends on Monday, June 30, 2025 from 5-6:30PM at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be held at 12PM on July 1 at the funeral home with interment in Peninsula Memorial Park following immediately after.

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