William Campbell (Bill) Hurston

July 9, 2017

William Campbell (Bill) Hurston, 91, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2017. He was born, September 16, 1925 to Carl Grady Hurston, Sr., and Neta Campbell Hurston, in Laurel Hill, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Floris Blackwell (Herman), Montgomery, AL, Mayme Steele,(Quentin),Ft. Walton Beach, and brother Grady Hurston, (Essie Dell), Crestview.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Pilcher Hurston and they recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in April. He is also survived by his sons, Stanley (Laura) Hurston, Mobile, AL, and Rod (Berta) Hurston, Gulf Breeze; and daughters, Jane (Gary) Hermann, Pensacola and Jean (Tim) Walden, Paxton; grandchildren, Blake(Michelle) Hurston, Mobile, Len (Connie) Hurston, Marion, AL, Gail (Rebekah) Hurston, Mobile, Chad Hurston, Atlanta, Kimberly (Tad) Allen, Powell, OH, Lindsey (Jerrod) Sharp, Navarre, Jenny Hermann, Pensacola, Susan (Chris) Crenshaw, Tallahassee, Daniel Walden, Paxton and 10 great grandchildren.

Bill grew up in Laurel Hill and attended school there through high school. His senior year in school he was drafted into the U.S. Army and returned from basic training to graduate with his senior class and then deployed to England and served in a military hospital until WW II ended. He was discharged from the U.S. Army and returned home. He attended Massey Business College for a time in Montgomery, AL and then in 1947 started working at Eglin Field in Base Central Supply and the Base laundry in Administration until 1963.

n 1963 he received a Presidential appointment by President John F. Kennedy as Postmaster of Laurel Hill, FL and served until 1978. He also served as City Clerk for the city of Laurel Hill a number of years. In 1978 he and Margaret moved to Pensacola and he became Assistant Postmaster at Cantonment, FL Post Office until his retirement in 1983.

Bill grew up in Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and served that church as Elder, Sunday School Supt., and Church Treasurer for many years. When they moved to Pensacola, he and Margaret were active in several local Presbyterian churches including Trinity, Pinewoods, and Northminster, and are now members of Pine Forest United Methodist Church.

Bill was an avid New York Yankees and Florida Gators fan and loved watching his favorite teams. He was a joyful, happy, courteous, and generous man who was friendly to all and ethical and professional in all his postal and administrative job positions.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. on Monday, July 10, at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel with funeral service to follow at 4:00 P.M. officiated by his grandson, Reverend Len Hurston.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his honor to Covenant Hospice or to a charity of your choice.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries