HOWARD EDWIN "PETE" HAMLIN

1922 - 2014

HOWARD EDWIN 'PETE' HAMLIN Howard Edwin 'Pete' Hamlin, 92, of Overland Park, Kansas (formerly of Wichita and Emporia) passed away May 8, 2014 with his family by his side. A private family service will be on Wednesday May 14, 2014 at the Church of the Resurrection, Firestone Chapel, followed by a gathering for family and friends from 5:30- 7:30 p.m. at the home of Jill and Rick McPherson. Pete was born February 27, 1922 in Hamilton, Kansas, to Roy and Estella Hamlin. He spent his childhood in Manhattan, Kansas, before serving as a pilot in the Army Air Corps during WWII. It was during that time Pete met the love of his life, Helen Maack, and the two married in June of 1944. This year they would have celebrated 70 years of marriage. After finishing his time in the service, Pete attended Kansas State University where he was the starting center for their football team. After receiving his bachelor's and master's degrees, Pete went on to teach and coach football and basketball in Palisade, Nebraska. He also taught and coached in Concordia and Wakee- ney, Kansas. After the birth of his eldest daughter, Jill, Pete and Helen moved to Hays, Kansas, where he continued to coach and also served on the Hays Chamber of Commerce. The family then moved to Emporia, KS, where Pete served as the division sales manager for Diddle Glasser and as the head of the Emporia Chamber of Commerce. During his time in Emporia, a second daughter, Dee, was born. At the age of 50, Pete moved to Wichita to become the founder and president of Webb Graphics. Pete enjoyed golfing, hunting, attending KSU football games and taking his beautiful wife ballroom dancing. He was a loving father and husband, who told his wife daily 'You're the best thing that ever happened to me.' Mr. Hamlin was preceded in death by his parents and older brother Ken Hamlin. He leaves behind his wife Helen Hamlin of Overland Park, Kansas, daughter Jill Hamlin McPherson and son-in-law Rick McPherson of Leawood, Kansas, daughter Dee Ann Hamlin of Olathe, Kansas, granddaughter Jamie McPherson Needham, her husband David Needham of Kansas City, Missouri, grandson Scott McPherson of Prairie Village, Kansas and three great grandchildren, Blake, Grant and Brooke Needham. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Friends of Johnson County Development Services (JCDS), the wonderful organization that provides special care for his daughter Dee and other people with developmental disabilities. Cremation Society of Kansas & Missouri, www.kccremation.com