Dr. Phillip Jennings Hamrick Jr.

He was born on April 26, 1930 to Phillip and Gertrude Hamrick in Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Having received his Doctorate from Duke University in 1955, Dr. Hamrick served Wake Forest University for 39 years until his retirement in 1995. An organic chemist, he taught general and organic chemistry as well as advanced courses in the chemistry department. Dr. Hamrick also assisted in developing the graduate program for the chemistry department, serving as Department chair from 1988-1990.

Dr. Hamrick won grants from the Atomic Energy Commission for research on free radicals, using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, some of it in collaboration with his good friend and colleague, physics professor Howard Shields. He also won a research grant from R.J. Reynolds for work on smokeless tobacco options. He was an active member of the Central North Carolina Section of the American Chemical Society for many years and served as its Chair (1964).

Dr. Hamrick was an active member at Wake Forest Baptist Church where he taught Sunday school to high-school boys for 9 years. He was also a scoutmaster and highly involved in the Boy Scout troop sponsored by the church.

He thoroughly enjoyed trout fishing in the mountains of North Carolina. Dr. Hamrick regularly camped along and fished many spectacular trout streams. He also became quite competent at tying his own flies and made his own fly rod.

Later in life, after becoming less able to enjoy wading through trout waters, he developed a deep passion for art, becoming quite accomplished painting with watercolors. Many of his works of art included scenery and old barns encountered during previous fishing trips.

The greatest legacy Dr. Hamrick left behind was his love and devotion to his wife of 63 years, Tyler Hill Hamrick. Having met in graduate school at Duke University, they were married in 1955. Dr. and Mrs. Hamrick had three children and spent the remainder of their lives between their home in Winston-Salem and their mountain home on Bald Mountain in Jonas Ridge, NC.

Dr. Hamrick spent much time outdoors teaching his children how to appreciate, enjoy and respect nature and the world around them. With a great love for the natural beauty of the mountains, he often painted the scenery around him. He shared this love with his children and then his grandchildren. This appreciation can be seen not only through those paintings, but through the joy his children and grandchildren find in the outdoors.

Dr. Hamrick was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Laura Katherine Wilsmann; and brother, Allen Hamrick. Dr. Hamrick leaves behind his wife Tyler Hill Hamrick; sons, Phillip “Chip” (Mary) Hamrick III and Andrew “Andy” (Ann) Hamrick; his grandchildren, Kimberly Hamrick, Evan Hamrick, Tyler Hamrick, Patrick Hamrick, Lauren Wilsmann, Madison Wilsmann, and Morgan Wilsmann; his sister, Marilyn Turner; and many loved ones, both friends and family.

A Celebration of Dr. Hamrick’s Life will be held on Saturday, March 10th at 11am at Frank Vogler & Sons Funeral Home, 2951 Reynolda Rd, with Pastor Lia Scholl officiating. The family will receive friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in his honor to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society online or by mail, P.O. Box 4527, New York, NY 10163

We got so many calls and notes including many wonderful stories about Dad. I want to begin with a story I had never heard before…

“One of our best memories of your Dad was the time we spent with your parents at their mountain retreat. Your Dad announced to us that everyone had to catch their own fish for lunch from the nearby trout pond. Betty was the last one to land a fish, but with your Dad’s instruction and help she finally caught her lunch!” Dad loved to share his passion for the mountains with family and friends!

On behalf of our family, thanks to everyone here this morning and to those who have sent their condolences - we have received countless phone calls, emails, visits, flowers, text messages, blessings and prayers. We especially loved the stories about Dad. All, very much appreciated.

My wife is a much more eloquent writer than myself, and I want to share a line from her Facebook post honoring Dad: “When he laughed his whole body was involved, and it was deep and rich and inevitably you had to laugh too!”

…so I write this eulogy as a tribute to his deep, rich laugh…

Dad – thanks for:

Showing us that being a “geek” is cool.

For teaching us respect, fairness, and tolerance.

For displaying honor and integrity each day of your life.

For teaching us that hard work and diligence overcomes most obstacles.

Showing us how to use a slide rule!

But mostly, Thanks For showing us how to laugh deeply and richly.

Dad – thanks for:

Showing us what a marriage is really all about, and what growing old in love looks like.

For allowing us to make our own mistakes but providing a safety net if we really needed it.

For knowing when to be supportive and when to challenge us.

For showing us to use all senses to understand this wonderful world, but listening is the most important.

For showing us how to laugh deeply and richly.

All throughout grade school, we always had the coolest science projects, thanks to Dad’s help. One project I am thinking about in particular was one in which I had been assigned to demonstrate how to “see” sound waves. I couldn’t think of a good demonstration, and Dad stepped in and helped to brainstorm a project where we used soap bubbles to show the force of sound waves. I got high fives from my classmates and a good grade on the project, but Dad helped us think outside the box…

Dad – thanks for:

Making math and sciences fun!

For encouraging us to ask any question – and that no question is dumb.

For teaching us humility and grace.

For showing us the awesome way in which left-handlers write across the page.

For showing us how to laugh deeply and richly.

Dad – thanks for:

Showing that helping others doesn’t cost anything.

Details matter – so be precise.

Leaders are important only if they can inspire others.

Passing along confidence, so we don’t mind being “different”.

Absent-minded professors can be on time.

For showing us how to laugh deeply and richly.

Dad – thanks for:

Showing us “off the grid”, improves the soul.

Camping shows us how spoiled we are, and how good a hot shower feels.

Complaining never helps, but action moves mountains.

For showing that a true outdoorsman, gets closer to God.

BUT…Thanks mostly for the memories – what a truly wonderful legacy!

And For Crying out Loud…. showing us how to laugh deeply and richly….so others have to laugh too!!

-Eulogy by Phil Hamrick

I wanted to add a couple of memories to the eloquent Eulogy my brother provided us…

One of my favorite memories of Dad and an example of precious time spent together as a family was during the summer when my twin sister, Laura, and I were 10 years old – and my brother was 14.

Dad planned a family trip to the Western part of the United States – three incredible weeks of camping in a pop-up tent / camper. We went to beautiful tourist spots such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and Mount Rushmore.

In addition to those popular, well-known locations, we went to lesser known spots along the way I remember because of the great times we had together; places such as Huckleberry Hot Springs, Red Rock Canyon, and Jackson Hole, WY.

We were able to see wildlife such as Bear, Elk, and Moose in their natural environments. At one camping spot, we even had the opportunity to watch raccoons climb up a tree next to our camper, along a branch and down the rope which was holding a large bag of our food items. I remember these well-fed raccoons using their paws / fingers to open up this large hanging bag and selectively pull out the Hershey chocolate bars while Dad pointed a large flashlight beam at them. Rather than yelling at them and trying to run them off, we watched this amazing spectacle from the camper…

I still appreciate many of the memories of this family trip and the numerous stories I have told others as a result of that time together decades ago.

Another special memory I have of Dad as a youth was associated with my school homework. If I approached Dad with homework assistance, since he was a professor – regardless of the subject, he gave me a 50 minute answer on Monday, Wednesday or Friday – and a 1-1/2 hour answer on Tuesday or Thursday. Not only did we thoroughly cover the problem I asked him about, he would give me several more similar problems to solve to make sure I learned the material.

Thank you, Dad…