Bart P. Hamilton

My father grew up knowing a simple yet hard-working type of life. He and his sister Virginia spent many hours/days picking strawberries and chasing chickens. Starting at an early age he could be caught with his hand in the cookie jar. His favorite cookie was the family ginger cookie. Virginia was best at making them for him throughout his life. She brought one to him the Monday before his passed and he ate it. My father liked pumpkin pie especially with lots of cinnamon. The story goes that one Thanksgiving as a young adult, everyone who went into the kitchen added cinnamon to the pie – it turned green!

As a teenager my father would spend his summers farming in Marlboro, Ohio with his grandparents Wertenberger. He loved having a garden and we his children had to help tend the gardens over the years. For many years we canned vegetables and fruits the gardens produced not because it was less expensive, but because it tasted better, and we knew what was in it! Just two years ago he still grew some peppers and tomatoes.

While growing up there were many family gatherings. Later these became the Reibolt family reunions. This instilled a sense of keeping connected so my father through the computer created pages of information for genealogy. Homemade ice-cream was made at some of these gatherings. My father enjoyed making homemade ice-cream for family gatherings and other events. His favorite ice-cream was chocolate. He could eat it anytime! Today we will be remembering this favorite of his after the service in the Fellowship Hall with an ice-cream and cookie social.

My father learned at an early age to shoot guns as hunting had been passed down through the generations. He was an excellent marksman even up to age 75 when he retired from hunting. We his children learned how to shoot guns at an early age and would go out hunting with him. My father always had hunting dogs and it was amazing to see them in action. His best hunting dog was Bandit, and his worst was Shadow – both English Springer Spaniels.

My father was an intelligent person and sought out education and training throughout his life. From the University of Akron he earned a B.S. – Physics in 1957 and M.S. – Industrial Management in 1971. From Christian International he earned a B.A. – Bible Studies in 1974 and Master – Divinity in 1991. With the American Society for Quality, he earned certifications as Quality Engineer, Quality Manager and Six Sigma Green Belt. In November 2016, he was elected a Fellow of which there are only 700 in the world. My father was involved with ASQ for over 50 years. During that time, he taught certification courses and judged thousands of science fairs.

While earning his physics degree at the University of Akron, my father was involved with sports. He wrestled. He played on the first soccer team on their home field at Reservoir Park in Goodyear Heights. They actually beat The Ohio State 1-0 in 1955. His claim to fame was that he played with Stu Perry. In 1954 he was the Freshman Football manager. This was the year of the first ACME Zip game at the Rubber Bowl. My father was driving the station wagon full of ALL the game balls. So many people wanted to attend the game that the traffic to the Stadium was so bad that he couldn’t move and the game couldn’t start until he got there!

While at the University of Akron, my father joined the ROTC. At graduation in 1957, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the United States Air Force. He flew the B-47 as a Strategic Air Command for the 100th Bomb Wing stationed at Pease Air Force Base. These B-47 wings served as America’s principal nuclear deterrent from 1953 to the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. These aircrafts on alert at home, in the UK or Spain had to be airborne in 15 minutes which was the normal warning time of an incoming missile. The 100th Bomb Wing fulfilled its mission of “Peace Through Strength”. In 1963 while at the Terejon (terahone) Air Force Base in Madrid, Spain my father was chosen to show Yvonne DeCarlo – better known as Lilly Munster – and her two sons around the base. A wings normal training mission consisted of high-altitude celestial navigation. He always talked about shooting the stars to determine where he was. He wanted to know how to do this again so the past year he was reading books to refresh his memory on it.

It was at the University of Akron that Bart met the love of his life – Lois Jean “Jeannie” Owen. This was actually the second time they met. Jeannie had lived several blocks from Bart in Cuyahoga Falls when she was 10 years old for only one year. One day her ball went down in the sewer. Bart went down and retrieved it. Obviously, Jeannie was unforgettable as Bart was the one who remembered her. And thus began their journey of dates which would continue throughout their entire 63 years of marriage. They attended operas, concerts, sporting events and movies – make sure to take enough money for Jeannie’s popcorn. Whenever anyone asked my father’s advice for a successful marriage, he would tell them to keep your dates!

Bart married Jeannie on December 27, 1957. With Jeannie at his side there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish. During the first six years while travelling around the country with the Air Force, there came four children – Barton, Lee, Christina and Ernest. Sean came 8 years later. In 1963, they moved back to Akron where my father began his career with BF Goodrich. He was a manager and involved with tire research and development. As a tire engineer, he was responsible for the development and adoption of the radial passenger tire. He retired in 1991 with more than 34 years of service.

An opportunity to teach quality control courses opened at the University of Akron in the Engineering and Science Department. He was the instructor of two courses in quality control from 09/1994 to 12/2019. I’m sure he is in heaven helping God with putting some quality control systems in place.

In 1945 after WW II had ended and travel restrictions were lifted, at age 9 Bart travelled to Canada with his father Bart, grandfather Lee Wertenberger, Uncle Ed Wertenberger and two other men who loved to fish. It took three days to find their way to the end of the road which was Rabie’s Fishing Camp on Naiscoot Lake in Ontario. Fishing was fantastic and thus began the yearly trips. In 1953 a log cabin came up for sale. Florence told Bart C he could only purchase it if he quits smoking. He did and bought the cabin. There were many improvements to the cabin and property as the Hamilton, Boyd and Gifford families began using it. When Bart C retired in the 1970s, he and Florence began spending their summers at the cabin. In wanting to have his own family time, my father with his sense of adventure starting planning canoe trips. Our family would canoe 50 -75 miles in 5-6 days out in the wilderness with huge screaming frogs, bears, moose, rattlesnakes, beavers and loons. In 1984, my father and mother purchased their own cottage two miles down the lake. When he retired, they began spending their summers in Canada at the cottage. The Bart P family shifted to using this cottage. But with so many family members coming to both cottages, gatherings were always happening and food was usually involved. So many great fish stories have been made and told about Northern Pike, Walleye, Perch and Bass. I was at the cottage with Sean when my father passed. I had only been catching bass. But on the day he passed, I caught two walleyes at the rock island weed bed in front of our cottage. I’m sure he sent them my way – Thanks Dad!

My father grew up in the United Presbyterian Church of Cuyahoga Falls because it was just a few blocks from his house. It gave him the firm foundation of his faith. When he was 17, he proposed having a mid-night Christmas Eve Service which did begin that year in 1952. While stationed at the Pease AFB in Exeter, NH 1960-1962, he attended the Congregational Church founded in 1636. There he helped lead junior boys during VBS. Once he moved back to Akron, he with his family attended several churches including Trinity United Methodist, High Street Christian and the UPC of CF. He taught Sunday School and Bible Studies. He believed in small groups as a way of accountability and growing. He once was Matthew in the play of the Last Supper. His desire for learning and wanting a deeper understanding of God, led him to obtain his Master – Divinity. He led worship services at the Florence Universal Church of Pointe au Baril Ontario several Sundays throughout the summer. By the way, dogs are permitted in church there.

My father was introduced to Boy Scouts as a teenager. He believed in the program so much that he made sure all four sons started out as Cub Scouts, became Webelos and joined a Boy Scout troop. When Sean joined, my father became the Scout Master for Troop 3 and then Troop 18. He continued to be an assistant for many years after being the Scout Master for a total involvement in of over 50 years. My father had very high expectations for the scouts to learn important skills and attitudes. Many boys complained about that. When earning a merit badge, he made them do it right so when they had finished a merit badge, you knew you had accomplished something. He had expected them to pay attention to detail and get the little things right. He use to say “don’t punish the prompt”. These attitudes saw many boys through the Eagle Scout rank, through higher education and into their careers. Many of the merit badges were achieved at camp. On family night in the summer, he would make sure to provide homemade ice-cream that either he or his wife made.

Another way my father helped with youth was through Junior Achievement. By being an advisor, he could help them understand how a company works and prepare them for a future job.

It was said that Bart didn’t want any children. Well, he ended up with five – Barton, Lee, Christina, Ernest and Sean! Without having been given a parental manual, he did the best he could be setting an example of integrity and hard work. He did add some fun along with it. He wanted us to appreciate our country and its history as well as the natural beauty around us. He took us to Ohio historical places, the parks and museums. He expected us to be well behaved and good students. We had to carry a 3.0 grade point average or above not to be grounded for a grading period. Ern had problems with this and was once grounded 3 times in a row. At least he didn’t get grounded over the summer. If we joined a group, we had to stick it out to the end – even if we didn’t like it. No Quitting!!! Sometimes we were very challenging for him. We would have to do push-ups for our punishment. If the boys were too bad, he would butch their hair. No joining little leagues but when the schools provided the sports, we could join. My father was supportive by attending football games and wrestling matches. My classmates who wrestled would ask me if he was attending the match because he would “coach” from the stands. My father coached soccer when Sean was at North High School. Although my father didn’t sing in tune, he still loved to sing out songs. We learned many songs the wrong way from him and the right way from mom. My father was not good at expressing his feelings of approval for us, but I know he was proud of each one of us and how well we are doing especially as adults. The same can be said of the grandchildren.

Two special families in his life that he helped to make a difference are Leslie, Joel and Olivia Briscoe and Lamar and Terri Saxton family.

Over the past few years my father became much more concerned about things. Such as he worried if I was getting enough rest during tax season. It occurred to me that his needing to be in control of situations may have truly been a way of his concern to make sure a situation would turn out right.

Looking back over his life, my father did a lot of right things which will remain with me and others for the rest of our lives. Thanks Dad – I look forward to seeing you again someday in Heaven.

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Bart Preston Hamilton, age 85, of Akron, passed away peacefully on September 2, 2021. He was born November 17, 1935 in Marlboro, Ohio to parents Barton C. and Florence Hamilton. He was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force from 1958 – 1963.

Bart graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School and the University of Akron with several degrees. He held certifications from the American Society for Quality Control and became a Fellow in 2016. He obtained a Master in Divinity from Christian International.

Bart worked in research and development with the B F Goodrich Tire Company until he retired in 1991. He then taught basic quality courses at the University of Akron from 1994 – 2019.

Bart was active at church teaching Sunday School and leading Bible studies. He was active with Boy Scouts for 50 years including being a leader. He was an advisor with Junior Achievement.

Bart is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jeannie Hamilton; sisters Virginia Boyd and Suellen Gifford; sons Barton (Angie), Lee (Roberta), Ernest, Sean; daughter Christina; grandchildren Destiny, Barton GW, Misti, Lacey, Lee O, Joseph, Jacob, Tyler; great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Heartfelt thanks to Home Instead, Care Tenders and especially The Colony Health Care Center for caring lovingly for Bart over the past six months.

Visitation will be on Friday, September 10, 2021 from 4 – 8 pm at Rose Hill Funeral Home, 3653 W Market St, Akron, OH 44333. Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 3 pm at the United Presbyterian Church of Cuyahoga Falls, 2819 Hudson Drive, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221. MASKS REQUIRED

Private military internment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Haven of Rest, The Salvation Army, The University of Akron or United Presbyterian Church of Cuyahoga Falls. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.rosehillbp.com