Dianne Adams Hunter

It is with almost unbearable sorrow that we announce the July 29, 2025, passing of a truly magnificent human, Dianne Adams Hunter, born Anita Diane Adams on February 14, 1934 – a Funny Valentine, indeed!

She was the third and youngest child of Thomas Douglas Adams and Ida Mae Whitton Adams.

After hilarious forays in dance and elocution as a young child, Dianne attended John Strange Elementary School and graduated from Broad Ripple High School in 1952.

While in high school, she kept things lively for those around her and rode saddlebred horses at Bonham Stables with her beloved sister and best friend Jane.

She attended Stephens College in Missouri, then graduated from IU in 1956, where she was a mischievous and cherished member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She continued to ride and show three and five gaited horses throughout the greater Midwest and beyond before obtaining a Master’s degree in Restaurant and Hospitality Services at Michigan State.

Dianne then went to work with her father, brother Tom and aunt Elizabeth at the acclaimed Hawthorn Room Restaurant at 16th and Meridian Streets. She was a warm and welcoming presence to many Hoosiers who delighted in this family establishment, and she did much to keep the wheels turning efficiently there until it was sold in 1972.

Dianne then helped manage Hawthorn Heights apartments and afterward opened the Hawthorn Tree Gift and Antique Shop in Broad Ripple, providing eclectic and tasteful items for sale.

Dianne married local realtor Don (Pooch) Hunter in 1977, and they cut a rug of happiness through life for the next 34 years until his death in 2011.

They shared a great love, and a love for animals, and served as volunteers and co-presidents of The Home for Friendless Animals in Waynetown, IN.

Their home was never without a merry band of rescue dogs and often a passel of cats and other critters, all of whom had couch privileges.

Dianne had a spark of joy that she unstintingly shared with the world at large. She thought the best of everyone and thereby brought out the best in everyone.

She was an unabashed bibliophile, a crafter, basket weaver, and hostess supreme. She delighted in jazz drumming and boutique travel.

Dianne lived a life luminous with love.

Dianne is predeceased by her parents, her brother, and her beloved and darling husband, Pooch. She is survived by her dear sister Jane Adams Murphy and her brother-in-law John (Jack) Murphy. She also leaves her step-daughters Karen Hunter and Jill Hunter-Becker, her step grandchildren, step great-grandchildren, and a court of adoring nieces and nephews, Doug Adams, Steve Adams (Dan Allis), James Aikman, Jennie Thomas-Adams (Joel), John Murphy (Sandy), Jolie Girton, Gayl Adams and a host of great nieces and nephews, and 3 great-great nephews, all of whom cannot fathom the thought of a world without their Nanton in it.

The family wishes to extend gratitude to her caregivers Tina, Lila, Shanta and Laura, and its collective and sincerest thanks to Steve Adams and Dan Allis, who opened their cheery home to care for Dianne so gracefully in her last years.

Graveside services will be on Monday August 4 at 1:00 p.m. at Flanner Buchanan- Washington Park North, 2706 Kessler Blvd West Drive.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to The Home for Friendless Animals, Inc., 7649 West 200 South, Waynetown IN 47990.