This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: KENNELLYMARKA Surnames: Hamilton, Simpson, Florczak, O'Leary. Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.hamilton/7099/mb.ashx Message Board Post: John Wesley Hamilton . John Wesley Hamilton, age 86, longtime Erie resident, passed into eternal life on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Hamot Medical Center. He was born October 5, 1922 in Rochester Mills, PA son of the late John and Annie Simpson Hamilton. John graduated high school from the Girard College, Philadelphia in 1940. He was drafted into the U.S. Navy in 1943, serving with the 87th Seabee Battalion in the South Pacific in World War II. He continued in the U.S. Naval Reserve, graduating from Penn State University in 1947 with a Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Psychology. John played varsity soccer while at Penn State, named to the All American team for two consecutive years, and was Captain of the All American team 1945-46. John worked for General Electric Personnel Practices Facilities and Administration from 1947 to 1964. Attaining his Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Edinboro University in 1965, he became the Assistant Secretary and Director of Industrial Relations for the! Manufacturers Association of Erie from 1964 to 1969. John was an instructor in the Psychology Dept. at Edinboro University . and served as the Executive Director for the Y.M.C.A. Downtown until 1972. Having taught industrial psychology for Penn State-Behrend College night school since 1950, John became the Assistant Professor for Management Development in Continuing and Distance Education at the Behrend College of Penn State, retiring in 1985. John married Nadia L. Lulka in 1948 and they celebrated 60 years together. John was very active in the Erie community, serving in leadership or as president of Belle Valley Grange, Erie Chapter of the Penn State Club (serving as president for 9 years), Erie Chapter of the Navy League, Military Officers Association of America,Y-Men's Club, Harborcreek Chapter of AARP, Wesleyville Rotary Club, Harbor Creek School Board, and Pennsylvania Association of Retired State Employees. The Y.M.C.A. awarded John the Harrington Award in 1967. John was an Elder and a Trustee at Eastminster Presbyterian Church and was instrumental in the renovation and construction of the c! hurch in 1960-61. He was a member of Carl Neff Post. John retired as a Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1972 and earned the Meritorious Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Order of the Purple Heart. John was preceded in death by his son, Cdr. Douglas M., U.S.Navy;" sister, Rebecca and brother Blaine. Survived by three daughters; Col. Priscilla H. Hamilton (U.S. Army), Oakton, Va., Heidi A. (Hamilton) Florczak of Agoura Hills, Calif., and Kimberly A. Hamilton of Alexandria, Va. Friends may call at the Dusckas Funeral Home, Inc., East, 2607 Buffalo Rd. on Tuesday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 until the time of the funeral service there at 11 a.m., conducted by the Rev. Tommy O'Leary. Interment, with full military honors, will take place at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 2320 East Lake Rd., Erie, PA 16511, Northwestern PA Humane Society, 2407 Zimmerly Rd., Erie, PA 16508. or Because You Care, Inc., P.O. Box 54, McKean, PA 16426. To send condolences, visit www.dusckasfuneralhome.com Erie Times-News from 4/26 to 4/27/2009, Eastminster Presbyterian Church," Edinboro University, Dusckas Funeral Home, Inc., Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.