Robert “Bob” Bruce Hamilton
Robert “Bob” Bruce Hamilton
Robert “Bob” Bruce Hamilton, 85, of Boise, died on Sunday, July 10, 2011. He received his call up and is now playing on his field of dreams.
Bob, son of Richard and Angeline, was born in Orofino, ID on January 9, 1926. His birth announcement in the local paper, owned by his father, read, "The first member of the Hamilton baseball team has arrived." An appropriate salutation for a man who played, coached and followed sports of all kinds throughout his life.
Bob was an active child who enjoyed getting into almost everything. His early childhood took a traumatic turn when at the age of eight he fell off a roof and suffered a serious injury to his left arm. In the early 1930s, medical care was still evolving and the doctors planned to amputate his arm. Fortunately, his father intervened, a different care plan was followed, and his arm was saved. Months later his father passed away. Bob was only nine years old. It was the Depression and Angeline was left to raise three children on her own. She chose to move the family to Boise where they could receive some support from her sister Mary.
In Boise Bob was educated at Washington Elementary, North Junior High and Boise High. During his years at Boise High he lettered in tennis, played in the marching band, and was a proud member of JROTC. After graduating, Bob answered the call and enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed in the Aleutian Islands where he contributed to the Allied World War II effort in the Pacific.
Following his first tour of military service, Bob briefly attended the University of Washington. He then transferred and graduated from Boise Junior College. He took great pride in the fact that he attended and graduated from Boise Junior College, Boise State College and eventually Boise State University. He was a true blue Bronco who watched as the fledgling institution grew into a major university and sports powerhouse. Bob was one of the original Bronco fans who attended games when the seats held less than 2,000 people. The recent success of the football program was a great source of pride for him.
Upon graduating from Boise Junior College, Bob worked for Idaho Power before enlisting in the Air Force for the Korean conflict. He once again served our nation for a little over two years.
The next chapter in his professional life would be his calling. He commenced working for Mountain Bell in 1952. Over a forty year career he served in many capacities, but was most proud of his work as a telephone lineman. Working on telephone crews throughout the rocky mountain states, Bob helped build our nation's communications infrastructure.
Bob's great love was his family. In 1965 his sister Sue "set him up" on a blind date with a new teacher, Kay Gewecke. Little did he know that he was meeting his life partner. In 1967 he married Kay and they were blessed with two sons, John (1969) and Jason (1971). Bob and Kay enjoyed almost forty-four years of marriage together.
Bob loved music and sports and his sons inherited his passion for those pastimes. He coached numerous soccer, baseball, basketball, and tennis teams and attended countless choir concerts. Bob was a patient and caring role model for his sons and all of their teammates and friends. He was his sons' biggest cheerleader and encouraged, loved, and helped them excel in all of life's endeavors. Bob taught John and Jason the meaning of unconditional love.
An avid volunteer, he was one of the founding members of East Boise Little League. He coordinated many rock picking and painting parties and helped turn a vacant lot into numerous beautiful baseball diamonds. Watching young men play baseball was one of his favorite hobbies, perhaps only surpassed by his devotion to "his" BSU Broncos.
Bob was a dedicated Presbyterian who served as a Deacon and Elder at Southminster Presbyterian Church. Many of his closest friends are members of the congregation and Bob felt truly blessed to have such a wonderful church family.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents and sister Rachel Terry. He is survived by his wife Kay, sons John and Jason, daughter in law Darya Swingle, granddaughters Angeline and Hazel and sister Susan Davis. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Southminster Presbyterian Church.
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