James Norris Hamilton

James N. (Jim) Hamilton, Sgt. Maj., U.S. Army, Ret. Passed away on Mar. 19, 2017 after a short battle with cancer. Born on September 9, 1927 in Mercer Co. PA to Donald and Margaret Hamilton, one of seven children, preceded in death by brothers Bill, Jack and Joe and sisters Betty and Doris, survived by his youngest brother, Dick. He is also survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Ruth A. (Helsel) Hamilton, Sons Jim and his wife Kim, Don and his wife Dana and Daughter Christine and her husband Jerry, by Grandchildren Barbara Anne and Savanah, James and Ashley and Great Grandchildren Knox and Savion.

Jim graduated High School in 1944 at 16 years of age and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1945 at the age of 17. He returned from his service to PA to work in the steel mills and met and married Ruth on February 28th of 1949. In 1952 he was stricken with polio and was told he’d never walk again but with the will and determination that marked every step of his life and the love and support of his wife and family he defied all odds and regained full mobility.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1960 at the age of 32 and again, against all odds, became Airborne and later Special Forces (Green Berets). He served three tours in Viet Nam and one tour of Thailand between 1963 and 1971.

Along the way he was a loving and dedicated husband and father that made the most of his time at home. After Retiring from the Army in 1979 he graduated from Fayetteville Tech with an Assoc. Degree in Civil Technology and began a second career in Land Surveying. After his retirement from that career he and Ruth spent their “golden years” in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of NC, in Robbinsville and Andrews, where he touched the life of many through his work with the Lions Club Food Bank. At the age 63 he fulfilled a lifelong dream of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail from Springer Mt. in Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine. Again, he made many lasting friendships along the way that he remained in contact with until his final days.

Jim was declared legally blind after contracting Macular Degeneration. He and Ruth still lived many happy and productive years in Andrews where Ruth worked at a Montessori school and Jim worked with the Lions. They were active members of the Andrews Presbyterian Church where Jim was an Elder.

Jim and Ruth moved to the Walton Woods Retirement Community in Cary, NC to be near their son Don and made many lasting friendships with the residents there where they served as Ambassadors to prospective residents.

Jim was an avid sportsman and sports fan his entire life. His free time was spent hunting, fishing and golfing even after losing his eyesight. He was a lifelong member of the Greeneville Hunting lodge in Portland Mills, PA since marrying Ruth, whose father was a founding member in 1927. Jim almost never missed a game by his beloved Tarheels and would watch any sport on TV.

Anybody that ever met Jim Hamilton could not help but be moved, touched and inspired buy his life, his determination and his commitment to anything he "set his mind to". I feel that if he could leave you with any words he would say "be a leader, not a follower"

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 pm on Sunday, April 23, 2017 at Waltonwood Senior Living.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Transitions Hospice at 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607.

Arrangements for the Hamilton family are under the care of Brown-Wynne Cary. Online condolences may be made at www.brownwynnecary.com