Obituary: Judge Bristol E. Hunter, 86

The Honorable Judge Bristol E. Hunter died on Feb. 29, 2012 at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.

Bristol was born Oct. 24, 1925 in Detroit to James Franklin and Thelma (Bristol) Hunter.

He was a lifelong resident of Clawson and graduated from Clawson High School. After serving in the army in World War II, he attended the University of Michigan, where he earned an undergraduate degree in political science and then a law degree in 1952. After a brief stint in Florida, followed by working for Chrysler in Detroit, he set up a law practice in Clawson. He served as Justice of the Peace for the City from 1959 to 1963 and in 1963 became Municipal Judge for Clawson, a position in which he served until 1978. He served as a District Court Judge in the 52-4 District Court from 1971 until his retirement in 1992.
Bristol loved his family and was much loved by them. He was known for his intelligence, integrity, fairness, humor, generosity and kindness. He was a good friend, role-model and mentor to many. He was an avid reader of history and politics, and enjoyed investigating his family’s genealogy and travel. He was very fond of Clawson and was an active community leader and supporter of local organizations.

Bristol is survived by his life partner, Jerry Johnson; his brothers, Thomas (JoAnn) Hunter, and William (Helen) Hunter; his nieces and nephews, James (Maggie) Hunter, Robert (Gretchen) Hunter, Kathryn (William) Walter, David (Margaret Bowman) Hunter, Laura (Ron Forester) Hunter, William Hunter, Tom (Alecia) Hunter, Tim (Christine) Hunter, and Becky Schiller; and by ten grandnieces and grandnephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother, James Hunter, and sister-in-law, Ruth Hunter.

Funeral Information

A memorial gathering will be held by the family on Saturday, March 17, from noon-3 p.m. at the , 705 North Main Street, Clawson. Bristol’s ashes will be interred next to his parents in the Oakview Cemetery in Royal Oak. Memorial donations may be made to the Clawson Historical Society, 425 N. Main Street, Clawson, MI, 48017.

Time Of Reflection will be held at Gramer Funeral Home March 17 at 2 p.m.

Source: Gramer Funeral Home