Dr. Frederick "Rick" James Hamilton

Dr. Frederick James Hamilton, known to many as Rick, passed away on June 27, 2025, following an extended illness. He was born on March 6, 1945, to Dr. Stanley Hamilton and Ruth Hamilton in Linden, Michigan. He was predeceased by his brothers, Chris Hamilton and Theodore Hamilton.

Rick graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science and earned his Doctor of Osteopathy from the University of Health Sciences in Kansas City, Missouri. He worked for many years as an orthopedic surgeon in Flint, Michigan, before relocating to South Carolina, where he practiced at Loris & Seacoast Orthopaedics, McLeod Orthopaedics Seacoast, River Hills Orthopaedics, and later at MUSC Marion Orthopaedics. He also served on multiple hospital boards throughout his career.

During his university years, Rick was a proud member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and he played on both Purdue University's basketball and football teams. He was a member of the 1967 Rose Bowl Championship Football Team.

Rick enjoyed writing and served as a columnist for the Myrtle Beach Sun News, as well as contributing a weekly column to the Tabor-Loris Tribune in Tabor City. In his youth, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout—a legacy carried on by his two younger sons, Harrison and Mason, of whom he was immensely proud.

Previously, Rick served as the Chief of the NCAA Drug Testing Crew from 1983 to 1987 and as Vice President of the Linden Community Schools Board of Education from 1983 to 1987. During his religious journey, he was a member of Linden Presbyterian Church from 1963 to 1994, a member of Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church from 2000 to 2005, and a member of Myrtle Beach Presbyterian Church from 2005 to 2025.

Rick was married to Carla Baxley Hamilton for 25 years. Together, they had three children: Harrison Alexander Hamilton, Alexandra Shelby Hamilton, and Mason Theodore Stanley Hamilton, all of whom were born in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He was previously married to Linda Hamilton Root, with whom he had three children: Jonathan Hamilton of Michigan, Jennifer Hamilton Pawlak (spouse Robbert Pawlak) of Indiana, and Christine Hamilton Blake (spouse Terry Blake) of Tennessee. Rick has grandchildren: Broderick Richards of Tennessee, William Hamilton and Tait Shaltz of Michigan, and Jessica Pawlak and Ryan Pawlak of Indiana. Rick has a niece named Lori Melton, a nephew named David Hamilton, and a Great-Nephew named Isaac Melton of Michigan.

A memorial service will be held at Lee Funeral Home in Little River, SC, on July 6, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Rick will be laid to rest beside his parents, Stanley and Ruth Hamilton, and his brothers, Theodore and Christopher Hamilton, at Fairview Cemetery in Linden, Michigan.