| Graduation Year | Class of 1934 |
| Date of Passing | Oct 11, 2008 |
| About | MANSFIELD - Robert George Hamilton, 93, of Shiloh, died Oct. 11, 2008, at the Heritage Care Center in Shelby, where he received excellent care following his recent surgery for colon cancer. He was born March 17, 1915, in Zanesville, to the late Robert E. and Margaret Roll Hamilton. Since 1991, he and his wife Rose Mary have lived near Shiloh on a farm owned by their son, Frank. During World War II, Bob worked as a pattern maker for parts used to construct Corsair fighters at Goodyear Aircraft in Akron and later returned to Zanesville as an automobile service manager for Bob Miller Motors, Morrison Motors and service writer for Dutro Motors. In 1960, he joined his wife in owning and operating Cooper's Drapery Shop, from which they retired in 1976. Bob was an accomplished musician. As a young man, he played first chair in the violin section of the Muskingum College Concert Orchestra even though he was financially unable to attend college. Through the years, he played violin or saxophone for area dance bands, "fiddle" for square dances and organ in a band he organized for Friday night dances at Alligator Park in Punta Gorda, Fla. He enjoyed working with wood, including those related to restoring theater pipe organs and mahogany Chris Craft boats. He supported the dreams and needs of his children: for his son Frank, he restored two theater pipe organs and about 100 theater seats for a Music Hall on Frank's farm; for his son Jim, he cut grass until the time of his recent surgery at Jim's Sunbury Golf Course; and for his daughter, Cyndi, he installed all of the wood trim in her home and helped restore a theater pipe organ. Most of all, he loved being with his "sweetie", Rose Mary, to whom he was married for 73 years, and teasing his grandchildren. Bob was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Zanesville, the Fraternal Order of Elks, the Central Ohio Theater Organ Society and the Western Reserve Theater Organ Society. He is survived by his wife, Rose Mary Koch Hamilton; son, James R. (Sue) Hamilton of Sunbury; daughter, Cynthia (Donald) Reighard of Urbana; daughter-in-law, Mrs. Robert F. (Lois) Hamilton of Sheffield Lake; nine grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Perry F. Hamilton; and his son, Robert "Frank" Hamilton. Calling hours will begin at 1 p.m. with funeral services at 2 p.m. Thursday Oct. 16, 2008, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ashland, conducted by Pastor Jeffrey Messner. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Central Ohio Theater Organ Society, 236 New Haven Drive, Urbana, Ohio 43078 or the Western Reserve Theater Organ Society, 2711 Green Road, Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122. Online guest registry at www.wappner.com. The Ashland Home of Wappner Funeral Directors is privileged to serve the family of Robert Hamilton. |
