William Ray Hamilton

Bill is preceded in death by his wife, Opal Schrader Hamilton, of 63 years. Bill is survived by his son, Lonnie Hamilton and his wife Connie; daughter, Deborah Hamilton; three grandchildren, Parker Hamilton and his wife Janet, Katie Schleider and her husband Robby, Ginny Wiley and her husband Carter; and six great grandchildren, Kate, Quinn, Brynlee, Reid, Camryn and Vonn; and brother, Robert Hamilton and his wife June, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Bill graduated from Amarillo High School, received his BS degree in Speech and Education from Wayland Baptist College and his Masters in Music and Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ft. Worth.

Bill joined the United States Navy at the age of 17 and proudly served for three and half years on the USS Pomfret SS 391 submarine during World War II. He was a member of The Submarine Veterans of WWII which eventually merged with The US Submarine Veterans.

Bill’s love for music began at a young age. At age twelve he led the music for the first time in a small West Texas church. He went on to direct music part time at multiple churches in West Texas, Ft. Worth and Dallas while completing his education. In 1963 Bill moved his family to Houston where he served as Music and Education Director at Long Point Baptist Church for 14 years. Bill then became Property Director at Houston’s First Baptist Church. He then founded the Chaplain Ministry at the Memorial City Hospital complex and served there until he retired in 1992.

Bill was a leader that people wanted to follow. He was elected or naturally assumed a leadership role in whatever he did. He was elected Student Body President at Wayland Baptist College, President of The Singing Men of Texas, President of Kiwanis International, and President of Submarine Veterans of WWII and even assumed a leadership role at Village on the Park retirement community where he last resided.

Bill loved the Lord and dedicated his life to singing and preaching the love of Jesus. His first missionary trip was leading a revival in Brazil and his life was changed forever. Singing and counseling were his passions and he did both very well. In his last days Bill truly took to heart our church’s motto of being a “difference maker” and he did that by pointing people to the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

Friends are invited to a visitation with the family on Monday, December 28, from 5:00pm – 8:00pm at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston TX 77077. A memorial service will be held in his honor at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, December 29, at Houston’s First Baptist Church, 7401 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX.