1929
Joe
2013
Joe J. Hamilton
September 16, 1929 — May 11, 2013
San Benito, TX:
Joe J. Hamilton went home to be with the Lord on May 11, 2013. He passed peacefully at his home in the presence of his loving family to whom he truly dedicated his entire life.
Mr. Hamilton was born in Landis, Indiana on September 16, 1929 to Joe and Alta Hamilton. He came to Harlingen in 1945 with his parents and younger brother, Robert.
He soon got work as the ‘clean up’ boy at Valley Transit Company. While working there, in 1946, he met the love of his life, Margaret Haynes of Rangerville, TX. They married in 1947 and began a long adventurous life together.
After marrying, they went to New Orleans, LA, where Mr. Hamilton worked as a guard on incoming ships for approximately six months when they decided to go to Michigan to pick seasonal crops. They picked cherries, strawberries, apples, and anything possible until settling once again, in Sault St. Marie, Michigan. There, Mr. Hamilton got a job as a forest tree planter, and bought an acre of land where they built a one room cabin. In early 1948, they went to Anderson, Indiana for a short time and their daughter, Thea Hamilton Wiley, was born in March. They returned to the Michigan cabin, again doing migrant work, until late 1948. They sold the cabin and returned to Harlingen, TX.
Mr. Hamilton worked for various companies as a mechanic, painter, etc. until he went to work for Lynn Sorrell Texaco Station in Harlingen as a mechanic for several years. Their son, Patrick was born in 1949 in Harlingen, TX.
At 23, Mr. Hamilton was offered a job as a laborer at Hargis Electric Company – the largest Electrical Contractor in the State of Texas which was based in Brownsville, TX. He soon became an Electrical Apprentice in the local IBEW Electrical Apprenticeship program in Harlingen. Mr. Hamilton was named the 1955 IBEW National Apprentice of the Year at the age of 26. In 1956, he became the Supervisor of the Harlingen Branch of Hargis Electric and also oversaw branches as far as Colorado.
In early 1963, Mr. Hamilton left Hargis Electric and helped form Triangle—an electric, plumbing, and air conditioning company. However, he soon established his own company, Hamilton Electric Company in September 1963 which is now in its 50th year of operation. Throughout the last 50 years, his company has provided jobs for approximately 1500 employees, helping numerous of these obtain one or more trade licenses. He was always very dedicated to his profession.
Mr. Hamilton is survived by his dearly loved family – wife of 66 years, Margaret (Haynes) Hamilton; his daughter Thea, son-in-law Don Wiley; grandsons, Steven Wiley and his wife Angela of Pinehurst, TX and Randall Wiley and his wife Katey of Montgomery, TX; granddaughter Renee Edwards and her husband Dr. Jason Edwards of Shreveport, LA. He is also survived by great-grandchildren: Reagen, Nathen, Shelby, Corben, Jorden of Pinehurst, TX; Gage Justin, Bella, Sofia (and soon to be Georgia) Wiley of Montgomery, TX along with an Edwards great grandchild due in January 2014.
Mr. Hamilton is also survived by his sister Betty Thornburg of Harlingen, TX; his brother Robert and sister-in-law Mary Jane Hamilton of Corpus Christi, TX; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Donald and Truella Haynes of San Benito, TX and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Hamilton was preceded in death by his son, Patrick in 1961, and his parents, Joe and Alta Hamilton.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Rita Torres, of Interim Health Providers, and the Greater Valley Hospice Alliance nurses, for their exceptionally professional and caring aid during this difficult time.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. with family members present from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Graveside services will be Thursday, May 16, 2013, at 10 a.m. at Restlawn Memorial Park in La Feria. A reception will follow at the home of Don and Thea Wiley, 1195 Zillock Rd., San Benito, TX.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Salvation Army, Mr. Hamilton’s long-time favorite charity, would be appreciated.
Joe J. Hamilton went home to be with the Lord on May 11, 2013. He passed peacefully at his home in the presence of his loving family to whom he truly dedicated his entire life.
Mr. Hamilton was born in Landis, Indiana on September 16, 1929 to Joe and Alta Hamilton. He came to Harlingen in 1945 with his parents and younger brother, Robert.
He soon got work as the ‘clean up’ boy at Valley Transit Company. While working there, in 1946, he met the love of his life, Margaret Haynes of Rangerville, TX. They married in 1947 and began a long adventurous life together.
After marrying, they went to New Orleans, LA, where Mr. Hamilton worked as a guard on incoming ships for approximately six months when they decided to go to Michigan to pick seasonal crops. They picked cherries, strawberries, apples, and anything possible until settling once again, in Sault St. Marie, Michigan. There, Mr. Hamilton got a job as a forest tree planter, and bought an acre of land where they built a one room cabin. In early 1948, they went to Anderson, Indiana for a short time and their daughter, Thea Hamilton Wiley, was born in March. They returned to the Michigan cabin, again doing migrant work, until late 1948. They sold the cabin and returned to Harlingen, TX.
Mr. Hamilton worked for various companies as a mechanic, painter, etc. until he went to work for Lynn Sorrell Texaco Station in Harlingen as a mechanic for several years. Their son, Patrick was born in 1949 in Harlingen, TX.
At 23, Mr. Hamilton was offered a job as a laborer at Hargis Electric Company – the largest Electrical Contractor in the State of Texas which was based in Brownsville, TX. He soon became an Electrical Apprentice in the local IBEW Electrical Apprenticeship program in Harlingen. Mr. Hamilton was named the 1955 IBEW National Apprentice of the Year at the age of 26. In 1956, he became the Supervisor of the Harlingen Branch of Hargis Electric and also oversaw branches as far as Colorado.
In early 1963, Mr. Hamilton left Hargis Electric and helped form Triangle—an electric, plumbing, and air conditioning company. However, he soon established his own company, Hamilton Electric Company in September 1963 which is now in its 50th year of operation. Throughout the last 50 years, his company has provided jobs for approximately 1500 employees, helping numerous of these obtain one or more trade licenses. He was always very dedicated to his profession.
Mr. Hamilton is survived by his dearly loved family – wife of 66 years, Margaret (Haynes) Hamilton; his daughter Thea, son-in-law Don Wiley; grandsons, Steven Wiley and his wife Angela of Pinehurst, TX and Randall Wiley and his wife Katey of Montgomery, TX; granddaughter Renee Edwards and her husband Dr. Jason Edwards of Shreveport, LA. He is also survived by great-grandchildren: Reagen, Nathen, Shelby, Corben, Jorden of Pinehurst, TX; Gage Justin, Bella, Sofia (and soon to be Georgia) Wiley of Montgomery, TX along with an Edwards great grandchild due in January 2014.
Mr. Hamilton is also survived by his sister Betty Thornburg of Harlingen, TX; his brother Robert and sister-in-law Mary Jane Hamilton of Corpus Christi, TX; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Donald and Truella Haynes of San Benito, TX and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Hamilton was preceded in death by his son, Patrick in 1961, and his parents, Joe and Alta Hamilton.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Rita Torres, of Interim Health Providers, and the Greater Valley Hospice Alliance nurses, for their exceptionally professional and caring aid during this difficult time.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. with family members present from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Graveside services will be Thursday, May 16, 2013, at 10 a.m. at Restlawn Memorial Park in La Feria. A reception will follow at the home of Don and Thea Wiley, 1195 Zillock Rd., San Benito, TX.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Salvation Army, Mr. Hamilton’s long-time favorite charity, would be appreciated.
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