J.J. Hamilton, funeral services will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, December 2, 2015, at Northwest Baptist Church of Ardmore Okla. with Dr. Leonard R. Ezell as officiant. Internment will follow Thursday, December 3, 2015, at 2 p.m. at Clifton Cemetery, Clifton Texas.
At 94 years young, J.J. Hamilton, an Ardmore resident since 1961, went to be with his Lord on Friday evening November 27, 2015. A descendant of some of the original Texas pioneers, he was born at his grandparents’ home in Sweetwater, Texas, in 1921. His love of aviation was apparent early. He learned to fly in high school, washing planes in exchange for flight hours. Prior to the United States’ entry into WWII, JJ and his friend, Joel Stevenson both graduated from Newman High School in Sweetwater and hitch-hiked to Canada spending only five dollars each. A total of 13 young men from Sweetwater, Texas, would volunteer to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. All 13 young men wanted to be pilots.
JJ completed his year of flight training with the RCAF and graduated from flight school tied for first in his class. He became a flight instructor and rose to the rank of Captain by the end of WWII. During his military career, at one time or another, he instructed pilots in every plane flown by Canada and Britain in WWII. After the war, JJ was offered a squadron command in the UK and the rank of Major. He was one of the few American Flight Instructors offered this opportunity, but he respectfully declined as he did not want to give up his US citizenship.
He was a commercial pilot for American Flyers Airline and an instructor for American Flyers Flight School. He assisted in the training of aviation students from all over the world. The former pilot included many of these students in his family’s activities, forming life-long friendships.
JJ and his wife, Melva were married for 60 years and the proud parents of two daughters, two wonderful sons-in- law, a granddaughter, her husband and one great-grandson.
His kindness to others defined him. He loved his “church family” at Northwest Baptist and served as a Deacon and in many other roles. JJ was very active in service to his community, including over 40 years of volunteering at the Ardmore Veterans Center, as a Gideon and with the Ardmore Loaves and Fishes ministry. He was awarded Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellow Award in recognition for his years of community service.
Visitation 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at Griffin ~ Hillcrest Funeral Home.
At 94 years young, J.J. Hamilton, an Ardmore resident since 1961, went to be with his Lord on Friday evening November 27, 2015. A descendant of some of the original Texas pioneers, he was born at his grandparents’ home in Sweetwater, Texas, in 1921. His love of aviation was apparent early. He learned to fly in high school, washing planes in exchange for flight hours. Prior to the United States’ entry into WWII, JJ and his friend, Joel Stevenson both graduated from Newman High School in Sweetwater and hitch-hiked to Canada spending only five dollars each. A total of 13 young men from Sweetwater, Texas, would volunteer to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. All 13 young men wanted to be pilots.
JJ completed his year of flight training with the RCAF and graduated from flight school tied for first in his class. He became a flight instructor and rose to the rank of Captain by the end of WWII. During his military career, at one time or another, he instructed pilots in every plane flown by Canada and Britain in WWII. After the war, JJ was offered a squadron command in the UK and the rank of Major. He was one of the few American Flight Instructors offered this opportunity, but he respectfully declined as he did not want to give up his US citizenship.
He was a commercial pilot for American Flyers Airline and an instructor for American Flyers Flight School. He assisted in the training of aviation students from all over the world. The former pilot included many of these students in his family’s activities, forming life-long friendships.
JJ and his wife, Melva were married for 60 years and the proud parents of two daughters, two wonderful sons-in- law, a granddaughter, her husband and one great-grandson.
His kindness to others defined him. He loved his “church family” at Northwest Baptist and served as a Deacon and in many other roles. JJ was very active in service to his community, including over 40 years of volunteering at the Ardmore Veterans Center, as a Gideon and with the Ardmore Loaves and Fishes ministry. He was awarded Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellow Award in recognition for his years of community service.
Visitation 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at Griffin ~ Hillcrest Funeral Home.
J.J. Hamilton, funeral services will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, December 2, 2015, at Northwest Baptist Church of Ardmore Okla. with Dr. Leonard R. Ezell as officiant. Internment will follow Thursday, December 3, 2015, at 2 p.m. at Clifton Cemetery, Clifton Texas.
At 94 years young, J.J. Hamilton, an Ardmore resident since 1961, went to be with his Lord on Friday evening November 27, 2015. A descendant of some of the original Texas pioneers, he was born at his grandparents’ home in Sweetwater, Texas, in 1921. His love of aviation was apparent early. He learned to fly in high school, washing planes in exchange for flight hours. Prior to the United States’ entry into WWII, JJ and his friend, Joel Stevenson both graduated from Newman High School in Sweetwater and hitch-hiked to Canada spending only five dollars each. A total of 13 young men from Sweetwater, Texas, would volunteer to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. All 13 young men wanted to be pilots.
JJ completed his year of flight training with the RCAF and graduated from flight school tied for first in his class. He became a flight instructor and rose to the rank of Captain by the end of WWII. During his military career, at one time or another, he instructed pilots in every plane flown by Canada and Britain in WWII. After the war, JJ was offered a squadron command in the UK and the rank of Major. He was one of the few American Flight Instructors offered this opportunity, but he respectfully declined as he did not want to give up his US citizenship.
He was a commercial pilot for American Flyers Airline and an instructor for American Flyers Flight School. He assisted in the training of aviation students from all over the world. The former pilot included many of these students in his family’s activities, forming life-long friendships.
JJ and his wife, Melva were married for 60 years and the proud parents of two daughters, two wonderful sons-in- law, a granddaughter, her husband and one great-grandson.
His kindness to others defined him. He loved his “church family” at Northwest Baptist and served as a Deacon and in many other roles. JJ was very active in service to his community, including over 40 years of volunteering at the Ardmore Veterans Center, as a Gideon and with the Ardmore Loaves and Fishes ministry. He was awarded Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellow Award in recognition for his years of community service.
Visitation 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at Griffin ~ Hillcrest Funeral Home.
At 94 years young, J.J. Hamilton, an Ardmore resident since 1961, went to be with his Lord on Friday evening November 27, 2015. A descendant of some of the original Texas pioneers, he was born at his grandparents’ home in Sweetwater, Texas, in 1921. His love of aviation was apparent early. He learned to fly in high school, washing planes in exchange for flight hours. Prior to the United States’ entry into WWII, JJ and his friend, Joel Stevenson both graduated from Newman High School in Sweetwater and hitch-hiked to Canada spending only five dollars each. A total of 13 young men from Sweetwater, Texas, would volunteer to join the Royal Canadian Air Force. All 13 young men wanted to be pilots.
JJ completed his year of flight training with the RCAF and graduated from flight school tied for first in his class. He became a flight instructor and rose to the rank of Captain by the end of WWII. During his military career, at one time or another, he instructed pilots in every plane flown by Canada and Britain in WWII. After the war, JJ was offered a squadron command in the UK and the rank of Major. He was one of the few American Flight Instructors offered this opportunity, but he respectfully declined as he did not want to give up his US citizenship.
He was a commercial pilot for American Flyers Airline and an instructor for American Flyers Flight School. He assisted in the training of aviation students from all over the world. The former pilot included many of these students in his family’s activities, forming life-long friendships.
JJ and his wife, Melva were married for 60 years and the proud parents of two daughters, two wonderful sons-in- law, a granddaughter, her husband and one great-grandson.
His kindness to others defined him. He loved his “church family” at Northwest Baptist and served as a Deacon and in many other roles. JJ was very active in service to his community, including over 40 years of volunteering at the Ardmore Veterans Center, as a Gideon and with the Ardmore Loaves and Fishes ministry. He was awarded Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellow Award in recognition for his years of community service.
Visitation 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at Griffin ~ Hillcrest Funeral Home.
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