WILLIAM E. HAMLETT

William Eugene Hamlett, 92, a resident of Raburn Gap, Ga., died at 12:15 p.m. Thursday, June 25, 2015 at Halcyon Hospice, Atlanta, Ga.

He was born July 1, 1922 in Rochester, Ind., a son of the late Philip and Dessie (Sharp) Hamlett. His formative years were spent in the Rochester area. The family moved to Belleville when he entered the eighth grade. He completed high school at South Bend Central. He attended LaSalle University of Chicago and received his bachelor's of science from the University of Florida.

On July 3, 1940, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp. During his 23-year military career, he served several locations including Germany where he participated in the Berlin Air Lift and Air Force Occupation Force. Other deployments included North Africa and Puerto Rico. He attained the rank of Major. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters. He retired from the U.S. Air Force June 1, 1963.

On Sept. 5, 1942, he was united in marriage to Mary Candice Beard. Mrs. Hamlett died Jan. 26, 1999.
Following his retirement from the Air Force, he became a claims representative for State Farm Insurance in Orlando, Fla., for 14 years. He was a past president for the Orlando Claims Association, a Master Mason with Masonic Lodge #536 F&AM, Del City, Okla., past president of Sylvan Lake Falls Homeowners Association, life member of VFW 4570, Clayton, Ga.; life member of Disabled American  Veterans Association, National Rifle Association, Macon County Model Railroad Club, and the Heritage Foundation.

He is survived by two daughters, Jane Hamlett (Stephen) Owens and Raenel Hamlett, both of Rabun Gap, Ga.; three grandsons and their wives, Matthew Wilson, of Marietta, Ga., Ryan Owens, of Parker, Colo. and Scott Owens, of Mount Holly, N.C.; and three great-grandchildren, Kylee and Keaten Owens and Joshua Owens.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Raymond and Richard Hamlett and Keith Feldy; five sisters, Grace Steele, Medrith Walter, Edith and Bertha Thorstenson and Louise Ware.

The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial is at Lakeview Cemetery, Larwill with the Korean War Veterans presenting honors. The visitation will be Sunday from 1 p.m. until the service at the funeral home.

Preferred memorials are to Halcyon Hospice, 1435 Haw Creek Circle, Suite 402, Cumming, Ga. 30041.
Condolences may be sent to www.smithandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Published by The Post and Mail from Jun. 29 to Jul. 6, 2015.

01/24/2023 EJS