John W. Hamilton

John W. Hamilton, age 93, passed away on Friday, December 6, 2013 at the Eastern Montana Veterans Home in Glendive, Montana. Visitation will be held from 2:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. and from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M. on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Glendive with Brother Guy Pontoriero officiating. Interment with military honors will be held in the Dawson Memorial Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. John was born on July 6, 1920 in Saxton, Pennsylvania, one of three children born to Lawrence and Ethel (Querry) Hamilton. He was raised and educated in Saxton and graduated from Saxton Liberty High School. During high school he played numerous sports including baseball, basketball and football. John was also given the nickname “Shorty” while in high school. Following high school John was drafted into the United States Army during World War II. He served as an electrician with the 11th Medical Evacuation Hospital and earned seven campaign ribbons with the 8th Army in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. He was in Heidelberg when the war ended, and he was honorably discharged from military service on October 19, 1945. Like many veterans, John didn’t like to talk too much about his war experiences, but if you asked him he would show you pictures and tell of some of his experiences. One highlight of John’s experiences was getting to meet General Patton when the General visited John’s hospital unit. After the war John moved to Glendive in 1947, and it was here that he met the love of his life, Lilace Jensen. They were married on November 16, 1947 and together they raised a son, David. John worked for the city water department until his retirement on January 1, 1982. He also started a business winding small electrical motors, and in his spare time John tended bar at the Glendive VFW. He was also a representative for the VA and traveled throughout eastern Montana to talk with veterans about their VA benefits. It was pretty hard for him to walk down the street or go into a store in Glendive without someone saying, “Hi Johnny, how are you doing?” He liked everyone he met and everyone liked him. Baseball was always John’s passion and since he grew up in Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Pirates were his favorite team. He was very active in the baseball programs in Glendive and coached the little league teams and even helped build the Whipkey baseball field. He also played catcher on a softball team in Glendive. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion Club and the Glendive Masonic Lodge where he was the "Worshipable Master". John always enjoyed working in his shop, tinkering around the house, fixing things and doing lots of handyman work. He loved to analyze and problem solve and find a way to fix things. John was preceded in death by his wife, Lilace; one son, David; his parents, Lawrence and Ethel; one brother, Bob and one sister, Genevene. He is survived by two nephews, Beau Hamilton of East Wenatchee, Washington and Richard Prayer of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and numerous friends. Memorials are suggested to the First Congregational Church of Christ, the VFW, the Eastern Montana Veterans Home in Glendive or a charity of one's choice. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com.

John W. Hamilton

July 6, 1920 - December 12, 2013

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John W. Hamilton

July 6, 1920 - December 12, 2013

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support