Jesse "Bob" Robert Hamilton

Jesse (Bob) Robert Hamilton, age 88, of Mervyn Sharp Bennion Veterans Home, died in his sleep on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Jean Lee Hamilton – and three of his sons, James R. Hamilton, Robert Lee Hamilton, and Michael Taylor Hamilton. He is survived by his sons Jerry N. Hamilton and Richard D. Cole as well as grandchildren Skyler Hamilton, Colin (Tracey) Hamilton, Abigail (Benjamin) Anderson, Ian Hamilton, Taylor Barrett, Benjamin McDonald, and Jacob McDonald; and by his great-grandchildren, Jonah and Bree Hamilton, Rowan Hamilton, and Eloise Anderson. He is also survived by Robert’s closest friend – an honorary son, Taw Andersen – and honorary daughters, Heather Taylor and Lisa Hamilton. 

Bob was born June 22, 1935, on Luminary Mountain near Pikeville, Tennessee. He was the oldest child of two boys and a girl born to Robert and Levella Hamilton. He joined the Air Force in 1955 and trained as a jet engine mechanic. This was the beginning of a career in the military, which involved tours in Vietnam, included awards such as the Bronze Star (and 30 or so other awards) - and would culminate in his Army rank of Command Sergeant Major. Anyone close to him may have been reminded of this rank regularly. He always said that since he had survived Vietnam, he was going to survive you – even over a long political conversation and some (often, decaf) coffee.

Long before achieving that rank, Bob would find his “sugar babe”. This would occur at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas – meeting his love, then-Airman First Class Barbara Jean Lee. After a routine job led to a routine argument, and a routine argument led to a first date - Bob and Barbara would marry on September 12, 1964 in Splendora, Texas. They became the proud parents of their two boys, Robbie (1967) and Mike (1970). They remained married up until Barbara died in 2021 – just a few weeks shy of their 57th wedding anniversary.

After Bob graduated from the Sergeants Major Academy (USASMA) in 1982, Barbara’s father (Buster Lee) had a stroke, leading Bob and Barbara to move to Charleston, Arkansas in 1985 to be near him. It was in Arkansas that he became active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While living there, they would both serve a two-year mission for their church with a small branch in Talihina, Oklahoma, near the Choctaw Indian Reservation. This was their version of “retirement”, which entailed (at the very least) a 160-mile round trip every Sunday and every time they were involved in Church activities. In December, 1991, Bob and Barbara would be sealed in the LDS Temple in Dallas, Texas.

No obituary of Bob would be complete without noting his dedication and service in the Boy Scouts of America. Bob spoke often of his many Eagle Scouts. If one were to take a look at their wall of pictures and awards they would see him with his first seven Eagle Scouts from Troop 55, three trips to Philmont, his time on staff at Camp Orr, a Scoutmaster of the Year award, an Outstanding Commissioner of the Year award, to say nothing of his Silver Beaver Award. Bob aided dozens of Boy Scouts in achieving their Eagle Scout Award.

Continuing his “retirement” in Splendora, Texas, “Mr. Bob” became a full-time paraprofessional, working with special needs students in the Splendora Middle School for four years. This was alongside volunteer work at the Cleveland Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, of which Bob was a lifetime member. He would eventually be elected Commander of the Post in 2007, and in 2009, District 2 Commander, giving him responsibility for 12 Posts in that area of Texas.

Bob was expert in organization, incentives, and delighted in actually achieving the results most people would merely dream of. This was true throughout his military career, and continued to be true in his time in the Boy Scouts of America, as a paraprofessional, and in his work for Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW); all of this alongside the many church callings. No one wanted to forget their “home teaching” when Bob was going to hold them accountable.

Bob was such a mix of the serious and the humorous, as anyone who knew him could well attest. His southern charm and appetite for wearing silly shirts went alongside his rigid desire for routine and results. Bob’s seeming gift for being basic and predictable was simultaneous with a subtle eccentricity that was endearing and easy to love. He would keep meetings on-point and productive, and always ate with a spoon. (“Forks are for sissies!”). Yet, when the work was done, he would love to sit on the porch and talk about anything from baseball to memories from Hong Kong. He was an avid reader, in addition to his daily newspaper – and was appreciative of political figures ranging from Sam Houston to FDR. As we remember him, and mourn our loss, we will remember the lessons he taught us of love for community, good-humor, tenacity, curiosity and determination. He will be dearly missed.

Our heartfelt thanks to the staff of Mervyn Sharp Bennion Veterans Home for their love and care for Bob as they became a second family to him in the final chapter of his life.

Condolences may be expressed to the family on this page.

For those unable to attend the services it can be viewed by clicking HERE