William Smith Hamilton

In Loving Memory of

William Smith Hamilton, Sr.

William Smith Hamilton, Sr. 89 of Pearisburg, VA went to be with the Lord 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 1941 from an automobile accident and Addie Mae passed away in March 1985. Bill had one sister: La Frances Hamilton Sunderman( 1917-1970). 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 New York 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 Feb 3, 1946. Bill worked at Sears Roebuck for two years then registered in TCU College in Ft 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, Virginia; John Bennett Hamilton who resides in Mt Airy, Maryland; and Karen Lynn Hamilton Carter who lives in Charlotte North Carolina. 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 1986. Bill was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Pearisburg, Virginia 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 ten 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 twelve years as treasurer of the Giles Historical Society. He is preceded in death by his wife, Grace, who passed away on Jan 8th, 2003. He is survived by his fiancée, 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 goddaughter 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 the First United Methodist Church of Pearisburg on Friday April 5th at 11:00 am., Dr. Brian Birch and Dr. Fred Austin officiating. Visitation will be at Givens Funeral Home in Pearisburg Thursday evening from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. 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. Obituary can be viewed at givensfuneralhome.com.