Paul Pressley Hamilton, 84, of Sigel Pennsylvania, passed away on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 after a lengthy illness. His wife of 61 years, Anne Elizabeth Hamilton (Betty Anne), and children and grandchildren were at his bedside in Clarion Hospital.
Born on December 24th, 1929, Paul was the son of the late Walter Addison Hamilton and Beulah May (Marshall) Hamilton.
Paul served as an infantry mortar man with the US Army during the Korean War, promoted in the field to the rank of corporal. He had a long and distinguished career as a Wildlife Biologist for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, from which he retired in 1988.
Among his many accomplishments was his unyielding defense of wild places including the Merrimack River in Missouri. In his retirement he worked tirelessly as an advocate for the mentally ill. He was a member of the Wildlife Society, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Pennsylvania, was a founding member of NAMI Clarion Jefferson Affiliates and past board president, state board member of NAMI Pennsylvania, a trainer for NAMI Family to Family Education, wrote and was awarded a grant for surrogate families for NAMI to help advocate for services for mentally ill persons, and he was a member of the Sierra Club.
Paul was most proud of his extensive family. He is survived by seven children: Kathleen A. Collier (Greg) of Florida, Paul P. Hamilton Jr. of New York, Adrienne M. Braun of New York, Charles A. Hamilton of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Mary Beth Hamilton (Steve Webber) of Harrisburg Pennsylvania, Phil M. Hamilton (Colleen) of New York, and Thomas M. Hamilton of New Jersey. Also surviving are eight grandchildren: Sara M. Valdivieso (Roland), Greg (Danny) Collier Jr., Brian E. Griffin, Andrew P. Collier, Brandon Wing, Chauntae Sayles, Mallory Braun, and Nolan Braun; and two great-grandchildren: Andres and Elena Valdivieso.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Rebeckah Marie; a grandson, Spencer Wing; three sisters: Edna Baumgartel, Mary Lloyd, and Roberta Rohe, and one brother, Walter (Bud) A. Hamilton, Jr.
Family and friends will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2014, at Robert V. Burns Funeral Home, 638 Wood Street, Clarion.
Wake service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Friday in the funeral home.
Military honors will be accorded by American Legion Post 66 of Clarion at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, October 4, 2014, in the funeral home.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Clarion with Rev. Monty Sayers, pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church, presiding.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to NAMI-PA or the Sierra Club.
Online condolences may be made by visiting www.rvburnsfuneralhome.com
