Obituary of William M. Hamilton

William Hamilton William Hamilton, a resident of Pleasant Valley since 1975, entered into rest Saturday, May 3, 2008 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 84. Son of the late Thomas and Lena Mewkill Hamilton, he was born on January 8, 1924 in Hughsonville. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by his wife, Josephine who passed in March of 1973, and his wife, Alice who passed in November of 2004. He is also predeceased by his brother, Douglas. Mr. Hamilton proudly served his country in the United State Navy during World War II. While raising his family, he worked as a postal clerk for the Wappingers Falls Post Office for 26 years, until his retirement. In his spare time, he had a passion for hunting and boating. He also liked to read. William could always be heard talking about his red Honda and how much he loved his car. His family remembers him most for his sense of humor; even throughout his illness, they admired how he remained brave and strong, and found humor in everything right until the end. He was a great father and grandfather and will be loved and dearly missed by his family and all who knew him. Survivors include his sons, Glen Hamilton of Fresno, CA, and Robert Hamilton of Wappingers Falls; his daughters, Linda Johnson and her husband, Jerry of Wappingers Falls, Lisa Silvestri and her husband, David of Newburgh, Laurie Hamilton and her fianc�, Michael Healy of Fishkill, and Diane Allen, her husband George, and their children and grandchildren of North Carolina; his step-daughters, Deirdre Cunningham and her husband, Kevin of Bengall, and Kathy Adams of Poughkeepsie; sisters, Ruth Sutton of Hyde Park, and Dorothy Stickle and her husband, Bill of Poughkeepsie; grandchildren, Noel Kolakoski and her husband, Richard of Beacon, Jerry Johnson, Jr. and his wife, Diana of Wappingers Falls, Shawn Johnson of Wappingers Falls, David Silvestri, Jr. of Newburgh, Erica Silvestri of Newburgh, Fallon Cunningham of Baltimore, MD, Colleen Cunningham of Millbrook, and Courtney Adam of New Jersey; great-grandchildren, Jordan, Ryleigh and Lluvia; and several nieces and nephews. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in William's name to the American Cancer Society, 2678 South Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. Arrangements are under the direction of Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 E. Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. To send the family a personal condolence, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.