James E. Hamilton

James Ernest Hamilton was born September 21, 1932 in Mingo to Raymond and Isabel (Burton) Hamilton. He passed away on September 25, 2011 in Topeka. In 1942, when James was 9 years old, he and his family moved to Irving. He later worked with his dad for the Union Pacific Railroad, and met Evelyn Miller when they were in high school. They were married on November 28, 1953. He signed with the Cleveland Indians as a pitcher, though injured before he played baseball. He was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. James worked for Boeing in Wichita for 3 years, then for Goodyear in Topeka for 5 years, and attended Washburn University. He began selling life insurance for American United Life in 1961. In a career that lasted over 40 years, James won many awards and trips, including the designation as a "Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Round Table". James and Evelyn were founding members of the Glory to God prayer group in 1973 and later the Queen of Peace rosary group. They organized and led eighteen pilgrimages to Medjugorje in Croatia to witness the apparitions and miracles taking place in that part of the world. He supervised the "chain gang" for Hayden home football games for over 40 years. James and Evelyn were married for nearly 58 years. He was preceded in death by his parents and two of his brothers, Meddie and Robert and his grandson, John Paul Holthaus. James is survived by Evelyn and their six children: Ronald Hamilton, Vickie (Allan)Holthaus, Dr. Thomas (Carol) Hamilton, Cynthia (Tim) Hund, Roger (Denise) Hamilton, and Pamela (Wayne) Zeller; 29 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday with Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 3601 SW 17th. Topeka, Kansas 66604. Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.