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Donna Hamilton Obituary

Donna Jean Hamilton, 74, of Davis, California, died at the University Retirement Community on May 16, 2019, of ovarian cancer. She is survived by her husband, John; her two daughters, Kathryn Hamilton Warren (James) and Erin Randle Hamilton (David Brice); her three grandchildren, Eleanor Hamilton Warren, Kai Robins Hamilton-Brice, and Anne Kathryn Hamilton-Brice; and her sister, Diane Elizabeth Ferderer (Renny), and her family. Donna was born at Fort Lewis, Washington, on March 12, 1945, to the late Betty Ann Downard. She graduated from Olympia High School and Washington State University before going on to earn a Master's degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Donna joined the US Department of State's Foreign Service in 1970. It was in her entering Foreign Service training class in Washington, DC, that she met John. When the training was over, she was off to her first assignment in Bogotá, Colombia, and he to Madrid, Spain, but their love and commitment grew despite the distance, and they married in 1972 in Alexandria, Virginia. Donna and John were one of the first "tandem couples" in the Foreign Service, pursuing parallel careers that took them to Mexico City; Thessaloniki, Greece; Washington, DC; Lima, Perú (twice); San José, Costa Rica; and Guatemala City, Guatemala. As a Washington-based official she traveled to dozens of other places, from Argentina to Bali to China, from which she always returned with treasures that delighted her young daughters. Donna's career was as meaningful as it was varied and exciting. Over 31 years, with creative problem solving and visionary leadership, Donna served American citizens overseas and helped foreign citizens visit and immigrate into the United States. A principled and devoted public servant, Donna reached the very highest levels of the State Department, her last position before retirement being Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs. When Donna and John retired, they moved to Harstine Island, two hours southwest of Seattle, living there from 2006-2018 in a waterfront house Donna helped design. During her time on Harstine, Donna served as President of the Olympia World Affairs Council and as a member of the advisory board of the Washington State University Honors College. She was also active in the League of Women Voters, participated in the Harstine Island's Women's Club and a community book club, and tutored English language learners in nearby Shelton. An excellent cook, she and John and their extended family enjoyed many delicious meals on the deck, occasionally spotting orcas and seals in the Puget Sound while taking in the beauty of the natural world. Donna and John moved to Davis, California, in 2018, where they joined the University Retirement Community. They have been moved by the friendship, kindness, and support shown them by so many of the URC residents and staff over the past year. The Hamilton family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Sutter Medical Foundation, the URC's Health Care Center, and Yolo Hospice for their excellent care. They are also grateful to Dr. Joseph Ye, of Vista Oncology, in Olympia. A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 3, at 2:30 at the Harstine Island Community Club Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests that memorial contributions be made to the Olympia World Affairs Council or to the Washington State University Honors College.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Olympian on May 26, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Donna Hamilton

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Jane gray

May 20, 2023

Always remembering Donna. What a wonderful person and Foreign Service Officer.

Group of 10 Memorial Trees

Jane Gray

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Jane Gray

August 26, 2020

Donna was the most wonderful person and most effective officer I worked for and knew in the Foreign Service. My mentor, my friend, Rest In Peace. May God bless and keep her family.

Kathryn HANOWELL

November 17, 2019

I am so proud to have spent my college years in the company of who I knew as Donna Downard. I admired her greatly. We were both in the Honors Program, both in Political Science, but Donna went on to serve her country her entire career. I went into Peace Corps and never saw Donna again until a Gamma Phi Beta reunion a bunch of years ago. She was about to join John in his ambassadorship in Lima. We had a wonderful talk but again, our lives diverged.

I wish you, her wonderful family, the treasure of memories you must have of your wife and mother. I am so proud of our State Department public servants of integrity and commitment. I know Donna was one of these.
Kathryn Hanowell, Nooksack, Washington

Mary Jo Fuhrer

August 5, 2019

I am very sorry for your loss. Donna was always so kind to me as a first tour OMS in Lima. I send my prayers and thoughts to your family and hope your memories help provide a little comfort in this difficult time.

George Kachmar

August 3, 2019

John,

My condolences to you and your family.

Although our paths did not cross afterwards, I remember Donna and you well from our A100 class days.

George Kachmar

July 4, 2019

Donna was a dear friend during her years in Lima.
I am so sorry to learn of her death although I knew she was quite ill.
I hope your family is quite united during this difficult stage.
Fondly, Evelyn Gleiser

Kathleen (Crowe) Vestre

June 20, 2019

So very sorry to hear of Donna's passing. She and I met in the three-year-old class at Sunday school and were friends throughout our school years. In addition, she did me the honour of being one of my bridesmaids when I married in 1964. We shared some emails when she was in Guatemala and I think of her often. My heart goes out to her family.

May 29, 2019

My sincere condolences to the family. May you find comfort in God who hears your prayers and sees your tears.Isaiah 38:5

Cheryl Williams

May 26, 2019

I'm a LWV member, and as I was deciding whether to have just a hysterectomy or an oophorectomy too, that VERY DAY she called me and told me she was stepping down as VP because of her cancer. Talking to her made my decision. You can take condolence in the fact that your mom's timing saved my life. I will be forever grateful to her. Thanks for letting me let you know how she affected me.

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