Roy "Billy" Hamilton

Monroe, N.C. Roy Cecil Billy Hamilton, Sr., loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather passed away December 8th, 2012 after a lengthy illness. Roy began his life in depression-era Montgomery County on March 28th of 1924. He worked from the time he was a very young boy to help his family survive this difficult time in history. He moved with his family to Union County to go to work in a time when jobs were difficult to be had. As a boy of just 17, he joined the Army Air-Corps to do his part to protect the United States and democracy. He spent 33 months in the Air Corps with 24 months in the Pacific Theater in WWII. His time in service was spent with the Red Raiders and he left the Pacific as a Technical Sergeant in the 408th Bomb Group. During his tour, he was stationed in New Guinea where he flew the second most bombing missions flown in Pacific Theater WWII history. Roy resided in Union County for most of his 88 years. Roy and his Brother Bobby worked summers at Union Mills. After his return from the WWII Pacific Theater, Roy rejoined Union Mills but later left to become Overseer at Arista Mills in Winston-Salem. He worked as a Produce Manager at Winn Dixie, in the Fish Market of Union County, and with Sheet Metal Incorporated, before he went to work for Aeronca Incorporated where he manufactured heating shields for space shuttles and heating units for hospitals and overseas US government consulates. He was passionate about his family, his faith, and about the natural world. He served as a Sunday School Teacher at Shiloh Baptist Church where he remained a member throughout his life. He was a tremendous Husband, Father, Grandfather, Uncle, and Friend. He was a Father to many more people than just his children and served as a Father-figure to so many men and women in the surrounding community. Everyone loved to see Roy coming – he never met a stranger – whether he was in Monroe or another state, he always had a story to tell and liked to hear the stories of others. He was an avid hunter, fisher, and gardener – he loved to hunt goose and quail; quail hunting was his passion. He was a fantastic cook and always loved people with food. You could never visit him and leave without something – a pie, some greens, a mess of beans or corn from the garden. He shared his love of people, his love of nature, his love of hunting, and his love of gardening with everyone he met and knew. Roy was preceded in death by his parents Andrew Ezekiel Hamilton and Bertie Eury Hamilton, sisters Betty Jane Hamilton Knight, and Jean Hamilton Williams, and brother Edward Ellison Hamilton. Surviving are wife Brenda Whitley Hamilton, Monroe, N.C.; daughter Tanya Hamilton Lipe and husband Clarence Houston Lipe III, Charlotte, N.C.; son Roy Cecil Sonny Hamilton, Jr. and wife Fran Howie Hamilton, Corolla, N.C.; brother Bobby Harold Hamilton and wife Jean Carter Hamilton, Monroe, N.C.; granddaughter Amanda Hamilton Joyner and husband Christopher Allen Joyner, Alexandria, Va.; grandsons Andrew Edward Hamilton, Perth, Australia, and Scott Houston Lipe, Cornelius, N.C.; great granddaughter Elizabeth Ann Joyner, and great grandson Andrew Everett Joyner. The family will receive friends on Monday, December 10th from 7 pm to 9 pm at Gordon’s Funeral Service, 1904 Lancaster Ave., Monroe, N.C. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, December 11th at 2 pm at Gordon’s Funeral Service. Online condolences may be made to www.gordonfuneralservice.com. Memorials may be made Roy’s honor to the Shiloh Church Building Fund, 2301 N Rocky River Rd Monroe, N.C.; or to Hospice of Union County, 700 W. Roosevelt Blvd. Monroe, N.C. 28110. Published online on December 8, 2012 courtesy of Gordon Funeral Service, Inc. .