Loyd Russell Hurst

Loyd Russell Hurst, 96, of Greencastle passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2013.

He was born on Nov. 6, 1916 in Putnam County to George Hurst and Ada McCammack Hurst.

Mr. Hurst was a 1935 graduate of Belle Union High School. He graduated from Indiana State Teachers College in 1939 and received his master's degree in 1941 from Indiana University.

Mr. Hurst began his teaching career at Cloverdale High School and then moved to Bloomington High School.

Mr. Hurst joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served as the administrative officer of the Navy Radio School, located at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, early in World War II.

Upon completion of that duty, Mr. Hurst was assigned to the Naval Communication School at Harvard University. Upon graduation he was transferred to the Pacific Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor. He was then assigned to the staff of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz who was commander in chief of the naval operations in the Pacific Area.

Lt. Hurst was aboard the USS Missouri on Sept. 2, 1945 when the Japanese surrendered.

Upon his return from the war, Mr. Hurst spent the next 32 years in the field of education. He was the principal of Quincy High School, Cloverdale High School, Jones Elementary School and Ridpath Elementary School.

He retired in 1978 as assistant superintendent and business manager of the Greencastle Community School system.

Mr. Hurst was the last Putnam County superintendent of schools when the county schools were reorganized in their present setup.

Mr. Hurst served in many educational programs. He was appointed by the governor of Indiana to serve on the State Board of Education, and was elected to the Board of Control of the Indiana High School Athletic Association.

He was a long-time member of Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church, and a life member of the Cloverdale Masonic Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Carl Hurst and Paul Hurst; four sisters, Helen Elrod, Freda Parker, Jean Staley and Lillian Arnold; and his wife, Nellie Kivett Hurst, whom he married on Aug. 22, 1942.

Surviving are his children, John L. Hurst of Portland, Ore., and Susan Mync of Portland, Ore.; a grandson, Paul Mync of Portland, Ore.; a sister, Margaret Rose of Plainfield; a brother, Morris Hurst and wife Wanda of Belle Union; and several nieces and nephews.

Private arrangements have been entrusted to Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle. Interment with military honors will be at Forest Hill Cemetery.

Memorials in Mr. Hurst's name may be made to Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Simpson St., Greencastle, IN 46135.

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at BittlesandHurt.com.