Richard Henry Hamilton

1922 - 2025

Richard Henry Hamilton, 102, of Marlboro, passed away peacefully at home February 19, 2025, after a brief period of declining health as a result of a fall.

Richard Hamilton was born in Brattleboro, VT, September 28, 1922, the third of five children of Ray Elliot Hamilton and Madge (Taylor) Hamilton. He was raised in a multigenerational household on the original Hamilton farm in West Brattleboro on the Marlboro town line. There was no electricity until the mid-1940s.

In his primary years, he attended the West Brattleboro Academy School. During his first year the school bus was a horse-drawn wagon. After that the vehicles were motorized. He was a graduate of Brattleboro High School class of 1940. During high school he was a member of the Future Farmers of America and worked concession stands at football games, the Harris Hill ski jump and the Memorial Park ski hill.

He was employed part time at the Eastern States Farmers Exchange in Brattleboro. He began a poultry raising business through 4-H. Starting with day old chicks, he raised broilers, pullets, and roasting chickens. Many late hours involved preparing his oven-ready roasters for the market. He was proud to have purchased a 1940 Ford convertible with earnings from his poultry enterprise. He often drove Miss Joyce White in that convertible to mow his father's grave in West Brattleboro.

Richard was drafted in 1942 and spent a year traveling the country on troop trains training for different specialties. He served with the Army Air Corp from 1942 to 1945 as a radio operator/mechanic, and gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress. He was with the 8th Air Force, 91st Bomb Group, 401st SQN stationed at Bassingbourn, England. July 20, 1944, on his ninth mission over Germany, his plane was attacked by enemy fighters. Four crew were killed in action. With a wing of his plane shot off and the bomb bay in flames, five crew bailed out of the burning plane and parachuted into Nazi Germany. Landing in a wheat field, he was captured and endured the wrath of the angry villagers and spent ten months as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft IV near the Baltic Sea in what is now Poland. That day he realized he had lost his freedom. As the Russian army advanced westward, his German captors evacuated Stalag Luft IV on February 6, 1945. For the next seventy-seven days he was forced to march through the snow with inadequate clothing for the conditions. He endured many hardships in the cold winter- dysentery, frostbitten feet, little personal hygiene, hunger and body lice-- until he was liberated on April 24, 1945, by the Russian army.

When reaching American lines, he was hospitalized at Camp Lucky Strike with yellow jaundice. When well enough to travel, he left Le Havre, France on a Liberty Ship for the USA.

He returned to Brattleboro on July 8, 1945. On August 8, 1945, he married Miss Joyce White. Theirs was a love story. Joyce's father, Harold White, offered the newlyweds a business at Hogback to operate at what would become the Skyline Restaurant. Richard went to Fanny Farmer Cooking School in Boston on the G. I. Bill. On his return, he was the cook and Joyce was the waitress until children began to arrive. Four daughters in five years provided future waitresses.

George Hughes, a bachelor, whose family was already friends with the Hamilton family, lived a mile east of the Skyline. He offered the newlyweds a home in exchange for help with his farming during his advancing years. They accepted and Richard spent his time farming and running the Skyline. They loved the farm and took great care of it.

Most of Dick and Joyce's lifelong work was operating Skyline Restaurant until their retirement in 1994 after 48 years. They employed over one thousand people and to many he was a father figure. Customers and employees became lifelong friends. Skyline was a major part of their social life which they thoroughly enjoyed. For many years he hosted breakfasts after Easter sunrise services. Neighbors were the work crew. More than 225 people from thirteen towns were served before opening hours.

At Skyline he created many flower and herbal gardens and carefully nourished each one. He took great pride in the grounds around the restaurant and at their home. There were flowers alternating with garden vegetables in the window boxes for the amusement of the dining room guests. There were bird feeders that were active with many species that also delighted the guests.

After their retirement in 1994, they were privileged to travel abroad to Switzerland, Austria, Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland with their dear friends, Betty and Whitney Stuart.

He spoke at many schools and organizations to share the importance of the freedom that the American flag represented to him. He was video interviewed for the National World War II Museum in New Orleans and the Library of Congress, Veterans Project. He was interviewed several times for newspaper articles and television news, especially during programs he attended on National POW/MIA Recognition Day in September. He was featured as a Super Senior by WCAX television in Burlington, VT.

He was a life member of the American Ex-Prisoners of War and was Commander of the Vermont Chapter for the last 20 years. He was a member of the Caterpillar Club, a national organization of individuals whose lives were spared by an emergency parachute jump from an aircraft. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1034, American Legion Post No. 5 in Brattleboro, VT, the Disabled American Veterans, and the 8th Air Force Historical Society. He was a life member of the Valley of Southern Vermont Scottish Rite Freemasons. He was trustee of the Marlboro Meeting House, and honorary Trustee of the Marlboro Historical Society. He was a member of the Thursday Night Club and hosted several hymn sings and sleigh rides.

His experience as a prisoner of war led him to the Bible and the King James version of Psalm 91, which he memorized and could recite up until the end. He read many newspapers and magazines and read the Brattleboro Reformer on his iPad. He was a member of Gideons International for 26 years and participated in many Bible distributions to hotels, motels, prisons, schools and colleges including the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth College and Marlboro College. He met with a Gideon men's prayer meeting every Friday morning at 8:00 am.

At the age of 102 he was still active. He attended men's breakfasts, senior lunches and veterans' dinners.

In July 2024 at the age of 101 the U. S. Army's 101st Airborne Division bestowed on him honorary paratrooper status and lifetime membership during a Building Bridges dinner with veterans at the American Legion in Brattleboro.

He served the Town of Marlboro as Constable, Tax Collector, Justice of the Peace, School Director and Selectman.

In 2001 he and Joyce were selected to be Grand Marshals of the Brattleboro High School Alumni Parade. The Alumni Parade was a big event for 118 years.

He was a devoted husband and loving caregiver for his wife, Joyce, during her time with brain cancer. She predeceased him on February 20, 2005, after 59.5 years of marriage. He was a devoted father to his four daughters and loved family, home and the property he inherited. He loved hunting and alpine skiing. He was proud to wear his 80+ ski club patch on his jacket and proud of the 8th Air Force decals on the tips of his skis. In March 2006, he was privileged to be on a four generational ski day at Stratton Mt. and to ski with his daughter Becky, grandson Roland and great granddaughter Alyssa.

He faithfully wound the Marlboro Meeting House steeple clock each week for many years until his 90th year when he had a hip replacement.

He was thankful to the Lord for all his blessings. He inspired and encouraged all who knew him.

He leaves four daughters, Marcia L. Hamilton of Marlboro, Rebecca L. Mroczek (Dave) of Northfield, MA, Barbara T. Giard (Steve) of Marlboro and Karla H. Bills (Michael) of Marlboro. He leaves seven grandchildren, Erika R. Bachand (Matthew) of Belchertown, MA; Roland R. Rylander (Bobbie Jo) of Adams, MA; Molly Boisvert (Pete) of Wilmington, VT; Belle T. Skwirut of Wilmington, VT; Jonathan R. Tyler (Veronica) of Brattleboro, VT; Morgan L. Bills (Melinda) of Belgrade, MT; and Cody H. Bills (Allison) of Bozeman, MT. He leaves fourteen great-grandchildren, Alyssa L. Rylander, Lukas T. Rylander, Carson D. Rylander, Damon J. Bachand, Benjamin D. Bachand, Jessica E. Bachand, Hayden F. Skwirut, Haleiah I. Skwirut, Solomon F. Sakellar, Sawyer R. Bills, Wesley M. Bills, Jory J. Bills, Boden L. Bills and Ethan A. Bills.

His siblings all passed away before him. They were Alice H. Martin, Joseph E. Hamilton, R. Edward Hamilton and Howard C. Hamilton. He left one surviving sister-in-law, Diane White Matthews, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visiting hours will be Sunday, March 2nd from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. at Atamaniuk Funeral Home, 40 Terrace Street, Brattleboro.

The graveside service with full military honors will be Wednesday, May 14th at 11:00 AM at King Cemetery, Fox Road, Marlboro. The memorial service will be Wednesday, May 14 at 1:00 PM at the Marlboro Meeting House, 524 South Road, Marlboro.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Marlboro Meeting House, Joyce W. Hamilton Endowment Fund, PO Box 64, Marlboro, VT 05344. Donations may also be made to Gideons International, Windham County Camp, P. O. Box 2335, West Brattleboro, VT, 05303.

To share a memory or offer condolences to Dick's family, please visit www.atamaniuk.com.