Ralph Hamilton, Jr.
March 31, 1917-Marcy 18, 2003
Ralph Ordell Hamilton Jr., 85, of West Southfield, Jackson, Mich., and formerly of Niles, Mich., died following a brief illness on Tuesday evening, March 18, 2003, in Foote Hospital, Jackson.
He was born March 31, 1917, in South Bend, Ind., to Ralph O. and Pearl (Bristol) Hamilton, and moved in 1949 to Jackson from Niles. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Pearl Hamilton; and by a sister, Norma Cox, who died in 1990.
Mr. Hamilton retired from the Clark Equipment Company after over 40 years of service. He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the U.S. Army Air Corps, and was a member of the UAW.
Mr. Hamilton enjoyed woodworking, bird watching and gardening. He was also an avid bowler.
On June 18, 1949, in Niles, Mich., he married the former Lynette Irene Smith, who survives. Mr. Hamilton is also survived by their children, Diana Ward of Jackson and Denise (Tom) Thomas of Kalamazoo, Mich.; grandson, Joshua (Amy) Hamilton; granddaughter, Elisa Ward; his sister, Helen Holcomb of Niles; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Emmett H. Kadwell Jr. of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. Saturday until time of services in the funeral home.
Contributions in memory of Ralph Ordell Hamilton Jr. may be made to Kalamazoo Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 3295, Kalamazoo, MI 49003-3295.
Submitted by family member; publication details unknown