Othar T. Hurst

Othar Thomas Hurst, 85, was born on April 4, 1930 in Georgetown, Delaware to the late Della Mae (Williams) and Othar Thomas Hurst, Sr. “Okie”, as he was affectionately called by his family, resided in Ellendale, Delaware until his stay at the Delaware Veteran’s Home in Milford, Delaware. A military veteran, he served in the Korean War. After his military service, he held a variety of jobs and finally retired as a civil service employee from Dover Air Force Base after 20 years of service. Okie was a proud and dedicated provider for his family. His passions included gardening, billiards, playing cards and pitching horseshoes. Additionally, he enjoyed the outdoors, watching major-league baseball and was a self-proclaimed car mechanic. He loved to dance and listen to music. He routinely attended services at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses. Othar was preceded in death by his parents; grandchildren, William Hopkins and Nicole Kuforiji; and sisters, Christine Harris and Virginia Pettyjohn. To cherish his memories and mourn his loss, Othar leaves behind his loyal and loving caregiver and wife of almost 60 years, Mattie Ruth Becton Hurst of Ellendale, Delaware. Together they reared ten children: Alex Becton, Milford Becton, Dover, Delaware; Deena Farrington (Johnny), Ellendale, Delaware; Rosalyn Ingram (John), Covington, Georgia; Gloria Hurst Thayer (Leon), Dover, Delaware; Otha Hurst, Lincoln, Delaware; Wilbert Hurst, Raiford, Florida; Virginia Hurst Atkinson, Kinston, North Carolina; Rita Hurst, Seaford, Delaware; and Rochelle Hurst Moore (Marshall), Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Also mourning his loss are his sisters: Elizabeth Pettyjohn (Robert), Harrington, Delaware; Agnes Bryant, Patricia Blanchett, Milford, Delaware; and Ruth Wright, Milton, Delaware; and brother, Clifford Hurst, Milton, Delaware; and brother-in-laws Robert Harris, Ellendale, Delaware, and Herbert Becton, Sacramento, California; and sister-in-laws Delores Becton and Arria Belle Roots, Sacramento, Californina. Okie also leaves behind 26 grandchildren, a host of great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Services will be held on Friday, June 5, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. with a public viewing at 10:00 a.m. at Bennie Smith Funeral Home, 717 West Division Street, Dover, Delaware. Burial will be at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro, Delaware at 2:00 p.m. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Othar T. Hurst, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Othar T. Hurst

April 4, 1930 - May 29, 2015