Donald Gilmore Hamilton was born on November 26, 1928 in Maynard, Ohio to Henry and Dorothy (Wright) Hamilton. He passed away on September 20, 2016 at the age of 87 at the Baycare Alliance Hospital in Dunedin, Florida surrounded by his loving family.
Sergeant Major Hamilton has been a local residence of Palm Harbor, Florida since 1984 after he retired from Fort Stewart, New York. At the end of his 24 year military career Sergeant Major Hamilton was eligible to wear the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, six Good Conduct Awards, the Army of Occupation Medal, three Korean Service Medals, eleven Vietnam Service Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, five non-commissioned officer professional development ribbon, the Army Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the United Nations Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Civil Action Unit Citation, as well as his designation as a sharpshooter with the M-16. Sergeant Major also served as the Dean of Admissions for Tampa College after his retirement.
He was preceded in death by his wife Frances Hamilton in 2002; his daughter Lisa Hamilton in 1960; his parents Henry and Dorothy Hamilton; and three of his siblings. He is survived by his children Donald Hamilton of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Jeffrey Hamilton of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Christopher Hamilton of Palm Harbor, Florida; Kathy Hamilton of Palm Harbor, Florida; brothers Henry Hamilton and his wife Esther of Painesville, Ohio; Phillip Hamilton of Painesville, Ohio and Michael Hamilton of Painesville, Ohio; sisters Minnette Marsh of Columbus, Ohio; Jean Sims of Columbus, Ohio and La June Lyons of Columbus, Ohio; ten grandchildren and one great grandchild who will be born in January.
A military funeral with full military honors will be conducted at the Old Post Chapel in Ft. Myers, Virginia followed by a graveside service at our nations most hollowed grounds, Arlington National Cemetery.
At this time Arlington National Cemetery is in the process of scheduling Sergeant Major Hamilton’s service, please call Veterans Funeral Care for service details.
Friends and family are invited to share a memory and sign his guestbook below.
Kathy and family,
I had the honor and pleasure of knowing your dad and seeing him on several occasions over the past few years. To say your dad was a true American hero would be an understatement. Your dad accomplished goals in life one could only dream of. He was always upbeat and loved his always present sense of humor. Used to love to mess with him about his Ohio State hat! I will miss him. Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. RIP American Hero…
Tom Colbert
Having met the Sergeant Majors children, I wish I had met him personally. I have spent my entire life, first as boy with an Army dad,(he was a simple vet, not retired)and as an adult in military affairs from a VA benefits trainer to arranging military funerals. Most civilians have no idea how difficult the Sergeant Major promotion is. It is the top 1% of all enlisted men and women. I don’t have to tell you, the Army is a brutal meritocracy. Your father must have been a great leader as that is what being a Sergeant Major is all about. I pray that God will comfort the Hamilton family, this is a great loss for you and our country.
Don you are loved and I will keep you and your family in my prayers. I am so sorry for your loss.
SGM Hamilton is “gone from our sight, but never our memories-Gone from our touch, but never our hearts” Thanks for your Service SGM Hamilton RIP
To The King Family,
MMs. Minnette King I was so sorry to hear about the loss of your brother. May God comfort you and the family in your time of bereavement. My prayers are with you all. I say to my friend Linda, be strong in the Lord, for your Mom and Aunts. Know that the Walker family is praying for you all. We love you. God Bless.
I will miss this faithful Ohio State football fan from Maynard, Ohio, who, against great odds, made it to the highest rank an enlisted man could make it in the United States Army. From the relatives that I have met since knowing Donald, he and his wife produced some of the most honorable and polite children and grandchildren living. I know, because of military duties, he was away from his family much of the time, yet he and she gave their children a legacy of great character. His service to our country and the sacrifice that he and his family made, because of that service, should be long remembered by us all. He is now opart of the ages and for ages to come, he will be in Heaven with his Lord and Savior, and he will be waiting for those of us who have accepted his Lord as Savior. We will join you soon, my friend, as God has promised us.
With all our love,
Dr. T. and Susan Thompson