Mr. Ray E. Hamilton, 70, of Rolling Prairie, IN, died at 8:05 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013, at South Bend Hospice House following an 8-month illness.
He was born March 16, 1943, in LaPorte to Gene and Esther (Dudeck) Hamilton and lived his entire life in the LaPorte area.
Ray was the former owner of Hamilton Tree Service and was former LaPorte County building commissioner for 17 years. He was a member of St. Peter Catholic Church of LaPorte, St. Michael Council of Knights of Columbus 1492 and LaPorte County Democratic Club. He was a former member of LaPorte Soil & Water Conservation District, LaPorte County Board of Zoning & Appeals, LaPorte County Plan Commission, and LaPorte County Home Builders Association. Ray was a loving husband, father and grandfather and a friend to whomever he met. He enjoyed camping and was a Notre Dame athletics enthusiast and a lover of the outdoors and nature.
On June 27, 1964, in LaPorte, he married Karen L. Weidner, who survives.
He also leaves behind three sons, Mark (Michelle) Hamilton of Granger, IN, Ted (Carrie) Hamilton of Lake In The Hills, IL, and Matt (Jennifer) Hamilton of Davidson, NC; eight grandchildren, Katherine, Alex, Jake, Abigail, Lauren, Holly, Colton, and Jillianna; two sisters, Mary (Frank) Van Schoyck of Rolling Prairie and Debra Hamilton of Wheaton, IL; two nieces and two nephews; and mother-in-law, Carmo Johnson of LaPorte.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Patty Hamilton.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at St. Peter Catholic Church, LaPorte. Visitation will be at Essling Funeral Home, LaPorte, on Tuesday, Aug. 13, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. A prayer service will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Pine Lake Cemetery, LaPorte, following the Mass.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sharing Meadows, 6357 E. 300 North, Rolling Prairie, IN 46371; American Cancer Society, 601 W. Edison Rd., Mishawaka, IN 46545; or donor’s choice.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.esslingfuneralhome.com.