A. Merle "Ham" Hamilton, age 101, lifetime member of the community, died Friday morning November 14, 2008 at the Primrose of Marion.
He was born on September 29, 1907 in Marion at the old family farm on Marion Bucyrus Road, the son of the late James M. and Zymilla G. (Monette) Hamilton.
"Ham" was a 1925 graduate of Marion Harding High School and was the oldest living member of his class. After graduation he enrolled at The Ohio State University and graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1929. On a fall day of that same year he married Pearl "Peg" Gray in Waterville, Ohio. They were married for nearly 70 years before her passing on September 25, 1998. They loved to travel and even made the journey around the world. Remember, this was in an era when travel of that nature was exotic and even dangerous.
While in College, he was a part of the R.O.T.C. program which was affiliated with the Army. He later enlisted in the Navy. His service included tours of the Mediterranean, Africa, and Italy during World War II.
After Ham's discharge he chose not to use his college degree and began working at his families Limestone Quarry in Marion. With a strong work ethic, he worked well into his 90s retiring in 2000.
Ham was a near lifetime member of the Epworth United Methodist Church.
He also held memberships in the Masons, the Rotary Club, held a seat on the Marion Cemetery Association Board, and was very active in the Boy Scouts.
Ham was a true philanthropist, donating his time and money to all things Marion. Whether it was the Linn School restoration, which held a special place in his heart, the historical society and the Harding Home, his work as benefactor of the YMCA and the Marion Palace Theatre, or Marion General Hospital, he was always willing to give of his time and resources.
As important as those items were the achievement he cherished most was the World War II Memorial at Historic Marion Cemetery. Ham played a vital role in the design, development, and fundraising efforts for the memorial. He was very proud of his service and this was a small way of paying tribute to that part of his life and the lives of so many other veterans and their sacrifice.
He is survived by his nieces and nephew, Judy Kilbury of Marion, Jane Ford of Columbus, Lynn Krigbum of Arizona, and Jim Greetham of Marion; his sister-in-law, Mary Greetham; 11 great nieces and nephews; and numerous great-great nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his brother, Oliver.
He was born on September 29, 1907 in Marion at the old family farm on Marion Bucyrus Road, the son of the late James M. and Zymilla G. (Monette) Hamilton.
"Ham" was a 1925 graduate of Marion Harding High School and was the oldest living member of his class. After graduation he enrolled at The Ohio State University and graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1929. On a fall day of that same year he married Pearl "Peg" Gray in Waterville, Ohio. They were married for nearly 70 years before her passing on September 25, 1998. They loved to travel and even made the journey around the world. Remember, this was in an era when travel of that nature was exotic and even dangerous.
While in College, he was a part of the R.O.T.C. program which was affiliated with the Army. He later enlisted in the Navy. His service included tours of the Mediterranean, Africa, and Italy during World War II.
After Ham's discharge he chose not to use his college degree and began working at his families Limestone Quarry in Marion. With a strong work ethic, he worked well into his 90s retiring in 2000.
Ham was a near lifetime member of the Epworth United Methodist Church.
He also held memberships in the Masons, the Rotary Club, held a seat on the Marion Cemetery Association Board, and was very active in the Boy Scouts.
Ham was a true philanthropist, donating his time and money to all things Marion. Whether it was the Linn School restoration, which held a special place in his heart, the historical society and the Harding Home, his work as benefactor of the YMCA and the Marion Palace Theatre, or Marion General Hospital, he was always willing to give of his time and resources.
As important as those items were the achievement he cherished most was the World War II Memorial at Historic Marion Cemetery. Ham played a vital role in the design, development, and fundraising efforts for the memorial. He was very proud of his service and this was a small way of paying tribute to that part of his life and the lives of so many other veterans and their sacrifice.
He is survived by his nieces and nephew, Judy Kilbury of Marion, Jane Ford of Columbus, Lynn Krigbum of Arizona, and Jim Greetham of Marion; his sister-in-law, Mary Greetham; 11 great nieces and nephews; and numerous great-great nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his brother, Oliver.
A. Merle "Ham" Hamilton, age 101, lifetime member of the community, died Friday morning November 14, 2008 at the Primrose of Marion.
He was born on September 29, 1907 in Marion at the old family farm on Marion Bucyrus Road, the son of the late James M. and Zymilla G. (Monette) Hamilton.
"Ham" was a 1925 graduate of Marion Harding High School and was the oldest living member of his class. After graduation he enrolled at The Ohio State University and graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1929. On a fall day of that same year he married Pearl "Peg" Gray in Waterville, Ohio. They were married for nearly 70 years before her passing on September 25, 1998. They loved to travel and even made the journey around the world. Remember, this was in an era when travel of that nature was exotic and even dangerous.
While in College, he was a part of the R.O.T.C. program which was affiliated with the Army. He later enlisted in the Navy. His service included tours of the Mediterranean, Africa, and Italy during World War II.
After Ham's discharge he chose not to use his college degree and began working at his families Limestone Quarry in Marion. With a strong work ethic, he worked well into his 90s retiring in 2000.
Ham was a near lifetime member of the Epworth United Methodist Church.
He also held memberships in the Masons, the Rotary Club, held a seat on the Marion Cemetery Association Board, and was very active in the Boy Scouts.
Ham was a true philanthropist, donating his time and money to all things Marion. Whether it was the Linn School restoration, which held a special place in his heart, the historical society and the Harding Home, his work as benefactor of the YMCA and the Marion Palace Theatre, or Marion General Hospital, he was always willing to give of his time and resources.
As important as those items were the achievement he cherished most was the World War II Memorial at Historic Marion Cemetery. Ham played a vital role in the design, development, and fundraising efforts for the memorial. He was very proud of his service and this was a small way of paying tribute to that part of his life and the lives of so many other veterans and their sacrifice.
He is survived by his nieces and nephew, Judy Kilbury of Marion, Jane Ford of Columbus, Lynn Krigbum of Arizona, and Jim Greetham of Marion; his sister-in-law, Mary Greetham; 11 great nieces and nephews; and numerous great-great nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his brother, Oliver.
He was born on September 29, 1907 in Marion at the old family farm on Marion Bucyrus Road, the son of the late James M. and Zymilla G. (Monette) Hamilton.
"Ham" was a 1925 graduate of Marion Harding High School and was the oldest living member of his class. After graduation he enrolled at The Ohio State University and graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering in 1929. On a fall day of that same year he married Pearl "Peg" Gray in Waterville, Ohio. They were married for nearly 70 years before her passing on September 25, 1998. They loved to travel and even made the journey around the world. Remember, this was in an era when travel of that nature was exotic and even dangerous.
While in College, he was a part of the R.O.T.C. program which was affiliated with the Army. He later enlisted in the Navy. His service included tours of the Mediterranean, Africa, and Italy during World War II.
After Ham's discharge he chose not to use his college degree and began working at his families Limestone Quarry in Marion. With a strong work ethic, he worked well into his 90s retiring in 2000.
Ham was a near lifetime member of the Epworth United Methodist Church.
He also held memberships in the Masons, the Rotary Club, held a seat on the Marion Cemetery Association Board, and was very active in the Boy Scouts.
Ham was a true philanthropist, donating his time and money to all things Marion. Whether it was the Linn School restoration, which held a special place in his heart, the historical society and the Harding Home, his work as benefactor of the YMCA and the Marion Palace Theatre, or Marion General Hospital, he was always willing to give of his time and resources.
As important as those items were the achievement he cherished most was the World War II Memorial at Historic Marion Cemetery. Ham played a vital role in the design, development, and fundraising efforts for the memorial. He was very proud of his service and this was a small way of paying tribute to that part of his life and the lives of so many other veterans and their sacrifice.
He is survived by his nieces and nephew, Judy Kilbury of Marion, Jane Ford of Columbus, Lynn Krigbum of Arizona, and Jim Greetham of Marion; his sister-in-law, Mary Greetham; 11 great nieces and nephews; and numerous great-great nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his brother, Oliver.
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