Arnold Hamilton

Arnold Hamilton 9/13/1928 - 5/29/2024
Arnold lived his entire life in Tacoma. He was born at St Joseph's Medical Hospital and passed away at the same hospital. He was the youngest of 5 children born to Carl and Marion Hamilton. He attended Washington Grade School, Mason Middle School and graduated Stadium High School in 1946.
He told many a story about hustling to make a buck. He sold newspapers at Ft Lewis when he was a kid. One year he won a Red Rider BB gun by being the top seller of greeting cards. While in high school he delivered the U.S. mail while his brothers and others were serving in the military during WWII. He himself was drafted in 1951 and served the Army over at Hanford in Eastern Washington. After he left the military he had lengthy career in the vending business, retiring after 37 years with Servomation in 1991.
He married Helen T. Dorotich in 1957 at St Patrick's church followed by a lavish reception at the Top of the Ocean (He was so mad when an arsonist burned it down in 1977 because none of his daughters would be able to enjoy their future wedding receptions there). Together they raised 5 children who were his pride and joy. After Helen died in 2004, he found companionship with Celia Disbro until her passing in 2021.
Arnold had varied interests over his 95 years. He liked to dance, listen to music and sing out loud. He read the paper faithfully working the crossword and Sudoku puzzles. As an avid history buff, he could spend hours reading about famous battles. He loved to walk the trails at Pt Defiance and Titlow Beach. He enjoyed traveling around the state and beyond and Sunday drives around the Puget Sound. A memorable trip for him was traveling with his siblings to Norway and visiting the family farm. He took cruises to Alaska, Bermuda, and the Panama Canal to name a few. He was a member of the Elks Lodge most of his adult life and spent countless hours there swimming. He was a diehard UW football fan, mostly watching on tv, but occasionally attending in person with his buddy Scotty Glenn. He proudly wore sweatshirts with the mascot of every college his granddaughters attended. He had a green thumb and excelled at growing dahlias and tomatoes. He looked forward to fishing each year with his brother John at places like LaPush and Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island. He loved throwing an end-of-summer BBQ for family and friends. He had a good sense of humor, liked a good joke, and laughed easily. We are going to miss him so!
He is preceded in death by Helen, his wife of 46 years, his parents, siblings and grandson James.
He is survived by his children Paul(Maureen), Christina(Gary), Janet(James), Mary(Robert), Karen(Angela). Granddaughters Colby(Latrell), Brylie(Marcus), Kari and Daisy. Great-grandson Keeler.
At his request, there will be a private family celebration at a later date.