Ted and Pat Hamilton met in 1953 in Topeka, KS. Pat was the ROTC Queen of her class at Washburn University where she attended and volunteered to register returning veterans to the University. It is here that she met a man who would become her "Knight in shining armor" and lifelong best friend: Ted Hamilton.
They would marry in 1955 and welcome their first child in 1956 and their second child in 1958. Tragically, they lost their third child, "Kenneth" in the first few months of his life due to brain damage at birth.
This young couple persevered through this tragedy and because of their undying faith and love for children they would bless 6 more children with life: A total of 3 boys and 5 girls.
They would spend their lives wiping tears, changing diapers, and packing lunches for these eight children. Endless stories read to eager young minds, countless sessions of nighttime prayers, and an eternity of hymns and campfire songs would cheer our spirits set our childhood world aright. They would support, mentor, and pass on their values of family and hard work to all of us.
Patricia Hamilton became a 4th grade teacher while still a young mother in Topeka, KS. She would eventually transition to full time "home and family builder" until her early 40s where she would move on to become a Social Worker for Clark County, Nevada. This was a God-ordained role that was a natural fit for her natural compassion.
Pat also spent some time as a case worker for St. Vincents "Haven of Hope" in Las Vegas and would talk make continual mention of the kindness of those people around her there. She would eventually retire from the County with her husband Ted to a little town in Southern Utah called Cedar City. She would achieve her dream of living in a green forested area.
Theodore Hamilton was a renowned photographer of his Hayden High School class, earning him the nickname "Snappy" by all of his classmates. "Snappy" would follow in his father's footsteps and join the Navy almost directly after high school. Ted went on to become a Naval Veteran of the Korean War and immediately entered the University of Washburn in Topeka, KS after his tour of duty in Korea was completed.
Ted was a hard working man of many talents. With a degree in Systems Analysis from Washburn University, he would marry his college sweetheart and they would embark, on a journey that would take the family from Topeka, KS to Louisville, KY, to Greenville, TX, to Phoenix, AZ and finally to Las Vegas, NV, adding 8 children along the way! He was a firm believer in providing for his children in many ways. He was always willing to share his engineering skills and woodworking craft with family, friends, and neighbors even after he began to struggle with his health.
Both Ted and Pat were quite active in the Catholic Church while in Las Vegas. Ted was in The Knights of Columbus and a lead usher while Pat sang in the choir and sat on the Church council for a time at St. Francis De Sales.
Tragically, on December 14th, 2010 while toting Christmas gifts from Cedar City to Las Vegas for their children, grand children, and great children, they were involved in an auto accident outside Cedar City that would immediately claim the life of Pat and complicate the health of Ted where he would pass away and join his best friend only 12 days later.
It is because of their lifelong love of 8 children, 7 children-in-laws, 14 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren that we have set up this page to celebrate the lives of our parents who tirelessly celebrated the lives of their own children. This memorial fund offers an opportunity to honor their memory by donating to the work of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in lieu of sending memorial flowers. We felt that supporting the medical well-being of children who cannot support themselves would be most consistent with the way our Parents lived on this Earth.
They would marry in 1955 and welcome their first child in 1956 and their second child in 1958. Tragically, they lost their third child, "Kenneth" in the first few months of his life due to brain damage at birth.
This young couple persevered through this tragedy and because of their undying faith and love for children they would bless 6 more children with life: A total of 3 boys and 5 girls.
They would spend their lives wiping tears, changing diapers, and packing lunches for these eight children. Endless stories read to eager young minds, countless sessions of nighttime prayers, and an eternity of hymns and campfire songs would cheer our spirits set our childhood world aright. They would support, mentor, and pass on their values of family and hard work to all of us.
Patricia Hamilton became a 4th grade teacher while still a young mother in Topeka, KS. She would eventually transition to full time "home and family builder" until her early 40s where she would move on to become a Social Worker for Clark County, Nevada. This was a God-ordained role that was a natural fit for her natural compassion.
Pat also spent some time as a case worker for St. Vincents "Haven of Hope" in Las Vegas and would talk make continual mention of the kindness of those people around her there. She would eventually retire from the County with her husband Ted to a little town in Southern Utah called Cedar City. She would achieve her dream of living in a green forested area.
Theodore Hamilton was a renowned photographer of his Hayden High School class, earning him the nickname "Snappy" by all of his classmates. "Snappy" would follow in his father's footsteps and join the Navy almost directly after high school. Ted went on to become a Naval Veteran of the Korean War and immediately entered the University of Washburn in Topeka, KS after his tour of duty in Korea was completed.
Ted was a hard working man of many talents. With a degree in Systems Analysis from Washburn University, he would marry his college sweetheart and they would embark, on a journey that would take the family from Topeka, KS to Louisville, KY, to Greenville, TX, to Phoenix, AZ and finally to Las Vegas, NV, adding 8 children along the way! He was a firm believer in providing for his children in many ways. He was always willing to share his engineering skills and woodworking craft with family, friends, and neighbors even after he began to struggle with his health.
Both Ted and Pat were quite active in the Catholic Church while in Las Vegas. Ted was in The Knights of Columbus and a lead usher while Pat sang in the choir and sat on the Church council for a time at St. Francis De Sales.
Tragically, on December 14th, 2010 while toting Christmas gifts from Cedar City to Las Vegas for their children, grand children, and great children, they were involved in an auto accident outside Cedar City that would immediately claim the life of Pat and complicate the health of Ted where he would pass away and join his best friend only 12 days later.
It is because of their lifelong love of 8 children, 7 children-in-laws, 14 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren that we have set up this page to celebrate the lives of our parents who tirelessly celebrated the lives of their own children. This memorial fund offers an opportunity to honor their memory by donating to the work of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in lieu of sending memorial flowers. We felt that supporting the medical well-being of children who cannot support themselves would be most consistent with the way our Parents lived on this Earth.
Services to celebrate our dear Mom and Dad's lives will be held at 9:30am on January 26th, 2011 at Christ The King Catholic Church in Las Vegas.
