Denzil Hamilton

Denny – as his friends called him – was born in Teaberry, Kentucky, April 2, 1939, the youngest son of Sie and Dolly Hamilton. Raised in Rising Sun, Maryland by his sister Mary after his mother’s passing, Denny lived his 87 years to the fullest (though he always lamented about not being discovered as the “world’s greatest country singer”). In 1956, Denny joined the United States Air Force. After his service, he got his barber’s license and traveled the world as a barber on a cruise ship, before settling back down at a barbershop in Harford County, MD. He tried his hand at politics, running unsuccessfully for a seat on the Maryland House of Delegates, before pivoting his sharp wit and broad smile to insurance sales, and later insurance financing, eventually using his sales acumen to become the Vice President of Marketing for one of the largest insurance premium financing companies in the US.

In 1978, he married the love of his life, Carmela Hamilton, and had one son, Christopher, whom Denny helped with Little League and joined on Boy Scout trips throughout the country. In his retirement, Denny and Carmela loved to travel to any place warm, from Hawaii to Aruba. He was an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Fullerton and the Knights of Columbus.

He will leave behind his wife of 47 years, Carmela, his son Christopher, and brother James “Jimmy” Hamilton, and a whole host of nieces, nephews, and step-siblings. Preceding him passing were his parents Sie & Dolly Hamilton and 15 siblings, including Millie Hamilton (John Dee), Dennis Hamilton (Stella), Mary Teague (Ira), Thomas Hamilton (Annalene), Duran Hamilton, Dicie Johnston (Buck), Martha Fitzpatrick (Bob), Mennis Hamilton (Peggy), Jay Lee Hamilton (Nancy), James “Jake” Hamilton (Kay), Jonath Hamilton, Darlene Hamilton, Anne Wood (Lawrence), Marilyn Hamilton (Jay) & Debbie Wagner (Jerry).

Relatives and friends will gather at Schimunek Funeral Home, Inc., 9705 Belair Rd., Nottingham MD 21236, on Sunday, May 3, 2026, from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at St Joseph Church (Fullerton), 8420 Belair Rd., Nottingham MD 21236. Interment St. Joseph Church Cemetery. On-line condolences may be left for the family @ www.schimunekfuneralhomes.com