Obituary of Oscar Hamilton

Oscar Myron Hamilton Mr. Hamilton, 91, of Charlotte, NC died peacefully January 30, 2011, at Asbury Care Center. He was born March 1, 1919, the third of ten children of Silas Vanculen Hamilton and Elizabeth Tiller Hamilton of Chester, IL. Mr. Hamilton proudly served in the Army during World War II, graduating from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA, in 1942. He was assigned to the Pacific Theater as an infantry lieutenant and served with the U.S. occupation forces in post-war Japan. He retired as a major in the U.S. Army Reserve after 24 years of service. While at Fort Benning, he met the love of his life, Edna Waldrop. They married April 24, 1946, in Columbus, GA. The Hamiltons lived in Columbus until moving in 2003 to the Aldersgate Retirement Community in Charlotte to be nearer to their daughters. After beginning his career in real estate with The Jefferson Company in Columbus, Myron was a partner in Hamilton-McEathern Realtors until joining the City of Columbus in 1969 as Chief Property Appraiser, a position he held until he retired in 1984. He served as an Elder in First Presbyterian Church of Columbus, where he was an active member for over 50 years. After retiring, he enjoyed writing both his personal memoirs and those of First Presbyterian from 1946 to 1995. Myron?s passions included St. Louis Cardinals baseball, bridge, gardening, history and genealogy. He was a wonderful daddy to his two daughters and granddaddy to their children, who cherish memories of gardening, playing and traveling with their MyMy. In addition to his parents, Mr. Hamilton was predeceased by his beloved daughter, Nancy Hamilton Holcombe; his brother, Lyle Hamilton; and four sisters, Hazel Chandler, Ola Downen, Betty McGinnis Downen, and Wanda Salmons. He is survived by Edna, his wife of almost 65 years; sisters, Olga Hastings, Norma Busch, Barbara Meyer, and Nedra Zagorski; daughter, Judith Hamilton Grubbs and her husband, Jake; son-in-law Edwin Holcombe and his wife, Valerie; grandchildren Win Holcombe and wife, Joanna, Robert Holcombe and wife, Mary, Catherine Abeyta and husband, Kevin, and Jeff Grubbs and wife, Erin; and three great-grandchildren, Rowan, Keiran and Nancy Holcombe. A memorial service for Mr. Hamilton will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at Covenant Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Mark Diehl officiating. Interment will be private. The family will receive friends at the church following the memorial service. Memorials may be made to Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1000 East Morehead Street, Charlotte, NC 28204-2888 or to the Library Fund, First Presbyterian Church, 1100 First Avenue, Columbus, GA 31901.