Hamilton Sr., William Smith

William Smith (Bill) Hamilton Sr., 89, of Pearisburg, passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2013. Bill was born in Snyder, Texas, on February 20, 1924, to Addie Mae Sanctum Smith Hamilton (homemaker) and William “Will” Williamson Hamilton (attorney). Will died in March of 1941 from an automobile accident and Addie Mae passed away in March of 1985. Bill had one sister, La Frances Hamilton Sunderman (1917 to 1970). After graduation from Snyder High School in 1942, Bill joined the Army Air Corps and was stationed at Randolph Field in San Antonio, Texas. He was transferred to St. Bonaventure in Olean, N.Y., for ASTP ( Army Specialized Training Program). He was later transferred to Cairo, Egypt, and Abadan, Iran, and was honorably discharged in 1946. He then returned to Olean and the girl, Grace Caroline Bennett, to whom he had become engaged while stationed there. They were married on February 3, 1946. Bill worked at Sears Roebuck for two years then registered in TCU College in Fort Worth, Texas, and later at Texas A & M College where he received a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1951. Bill and Grace had three children, William S. Hamilton Jr., who now resides in Narrows, Va., John Bennett Hamilton, who resides in Mt. Airy, Md., and Karen Lynn Hamilton Carter, who lives in Charlotte, N.C. They presented six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren to Grace and Bill. Upon graduation from A & M, Bill worked for Merck Pharmaceuticals, EI DuPont, and Celanese Fibers Company. He retired from Celanese in March of 1986. Bill was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Pearisburg, Va., and spent many years as chairman of the Building and Grounds Committee. He was a cook and buyer of food for the Men’s Prayer Breakfast. He was a longtime member of the Pearisburg Kiwanis Club, serving three times as president and 10 years as treasurer. He was a Mason serving three times as Master and once as District Deputy Grand Master. He was a Shriner serving twice as president of the Giles Shrine Club and was a charter member of the Kazim Misfits clown unit. He was an honorary Red Devil from Pearisburg High School. He was a member of the Pearisburg Lions Club. Also he served 12years as treasurer of the Giles Historical Society. He is preceded in death by his wife, Grace, who passed away on January 8, 2003. He is survived by his fiance, Geneva Mullins, of Narrows, Va.; his older son, William S. Hamilton Jr. and wife, Margaret Fay; his younger son, John Bennett Hamilton and wife, Karen; and his daughter, Karen Lynn Hamilton Carter. In addition are his six grandchildren, Brian, Matthew, Michael, Jim, Emily and Patrick; three great- grandchildren, Brian Alexander, Christopher Kento and Nicholas Shoto; and his god daughter, Asa Lee Hendrickson Majors. He is also survived by Philip and Jolen Mullins, and Johnny and Penny Mullins and their respective families. Memorial Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 5, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church of Pearisburg. Dr. Brian Birch and Dr. Fred Austin will officiate. Visitation will be held at Givens Funeral Home in Pearisburg on Thursday evening, April 4, 2013, from 5 to 7 p.m. Bill wished his body to be cremated and ashes scattered. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to the Giles County Historical Society, First United Methodist Church of Pearisburg, Giles County Volunteer Rescue Squad or Good Samaritan Hospice Services NRV. Bill Hamilton will be remembered for his patience, his kind and gentle nature and his remarkable ability to seek out the good in everyone he met. He spent a lifetime looking after those he loved and setting an example of honor and integrity for his children and grandchildren to follow. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. Arrangements by Givens Funeral Home, Pearisburg, Va., 540-921-1650. www.givensfuneralhome.com