Charles F. (Ham) Hamilton

Charles F. (Ham) Hamilton, age 86, of Grants Pass, passed away Thursday, April 11, 2013 at Three Rivers Medical Center.

A memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday April 15th, 2013 at Grace Bible Church.

Remembrances may be made to the Gospel Rescue Mission, PO Box 190, Grants Pass, Oregon 97528.

Ham was born October 30, 1926 in Leon, Iowa to Edith Beatrice and Joe Francis Hamilton. When he was eight years old, his family moved to Canyonville, Oregon and a short time later to Grants Pass. He attended Three Pines School then Riverside Elementary. Ham joined the US Navy in 1944 and was awarded his Grants Pass High School diploma in 1945. After service stationed in San Diego, he returned to Grants Pass and married Joan Probst at Newman Methodist Church in November of 1946. They were married 66 years.

After his honorable discharge from the Navy, Ham and Joan moved to Klamath Falls and was a member of the first graduating class of OIT. The family moved back to Grants Pass where Ham became foreman at Menasco Motors. In 1966 he established Ham’s Body Shop on the corner of G Street and Third. Later, he built a new shop on Terry Lane near the current Arby’s. Retired at age 55 Ham and Joan traveled to every state except South Dakota in their motorhome. Later, they purchased a home in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico and enjoyed 10 leisurely years there.

Ham will always be remembered for his selfless service to others. He worked countless hours repairing and remodeling homes, cars, appliances, plumbing, and other things for family and friends. He transformed his family home into the Hamilton House Restaurant on Terry Lane in 1976, which was eventually donated to Coalition For Kids and moved to SW 8th Street. Later, he assisted the extensive remodel on what is now The River’s Edge Restaurant, also formerly owned by his son Doug. Ham also spent many weeks working at Alpine Boys Ranch, Leavenworth, Washington, Teen Missions, Merritt Island, Florida, and locally with Meals on Wheels. Ham and Joan were among the founding members of Grace Bible Church in Grants Pass.

He is survived by Joan and five children, Doug ( and Laurel) of Jacksonville, Suzie Hamilton of Aloha, Dewey Timothy (and Chelsea), David (and Tina), and Carrie Stobbe (and Phil) all of Grants Pass, 29 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Sisters Betty Fox of Galice and Margaret DeSoto of Phoenix, Arizona survive as well.