Robert Richard Hults

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Robert (Bob) Richard Hults on May 19, 2026. Bob passed away, peacefully and surrounded by family, in hospice care in Orange City, Florida, and after a courageous battle with cancer. Bob was 81 years old.

Bob was intellectually curious, committed to what was right, always ready to crack a joke, and devoted to his wife, children, and grandchildren. His family will miss him deeply.

Bob was born on May 26, 1944, in New York City and grew up in the Tampa-Saint Petersburg area. Bob’s childhood passions, baseball and particularly fishing, would stick with him as an adult. From 1964 to 1967, Bob served in the U.S. Army, which he credited for bringing focus to his life and helping him see his own potential. In 1969, Bob married Mary Duran Hults (Scott), who spent her career as a teacher of children with special needs. In 1971, Bob and Duran moved to west Volusia County, Florida, where he lived for the rest of his life, and had their two children, Nicole and David. After working initially in sales, Bob transitioned in 1976 to real estate. Bob would make selling new homes his career and, at different points in his life, he owned two real estate companies.

In addition to working hard and raising two kids, Bob became active in the community. Bob was strongly committed to environmental causes and a long-time supporter of public television and radio. Bob was an avid fisherman. Bob wrote a column in the Florida Fish Finder Magazine and was named West Volusia “Bassmaster” of the Year. Bob also stepped up in difficult situations. In the early 1980s, Bob intervened to stop a crime in progress at a 7-Eleven and was recognized by the Sheriff’s Department for his bravery.

In 1992, Duran passed away after her own battle with cancer. In 1996, Bob married Claudia, a speech language pathologist and licensed massage therapist. Ever the fisherman, Bob would call Duran and Claudia the two best catches he ever landed.

Later in life, Bob took up additional hobbies, including gardening, looking up random information on Wikipedia, and target shooting. Bob proudly shot one hundred straight clay pigeons on two separate occasions. Bob was also immensely proud of his family and was consistently there for them on each step of their own journeys.

Bob is survived by his wife, Claudia Hults, his two children, Nicole and David, and his five grandsons, Cole, Noah, Tracy, Mark, and Charles.

Memorial services will be held Sunday, May 24 at 12pm at Venue 142, 142 North Woodland Boulevard, DeLand, Florida 32724 ( https://www.venue-142.com/ ) . We request that donations be made in Bob’s memory to the Florida Wildlife Federation ( https://floridawildlifefederation.org/ ) , an organization that Bob himself supported.