Paul Clifton Hamilton

Paul Clifton Hamilton of Knoxville, TN, 85, passed away November 16, 2020 at home. He was born November 3, 1935 in New Galilee, PA to Floyd S and Mary E. (McCaughtry) Hamilton. Paul was the second to youngest child in a fun-loving family of nine children. He grew up on the family dairy farm and told many stories about his childhood. One family favorite was when he tormented the plow horse, King, with an apple. King grew tired of Paul’s mischief and nipped his ear. An older brother had to stop the bleeding because the top of Paul’s ear was nipped off. King’s teeth marks remained at the top of Paul’s ear for the rest of his life. Paul met the love of his life, Sara (Sally) Belle McCandless at a Youth for Christ event. Paul and Sally married in July 1954. They were married for 64 years. Paul graduated from Wampum High School in 1954 and graduated from Shelton College in Ringwood, New Jersey in 1963. Paul served proudly in the Army from 1954-1955, including being stationed at Oahu, HI. He obtained the rank of Private, First Class and received the following awards – Marksmen (M-1 and Carbine), National Defense Service Metal, and Expert (SMG). Paul spent his career traveling as either a traveling salesman (Whitehall Laboratories, Tony, Revlon, or Nature Made) or as a truck driver (Star Transportation). He enjoyed the freedom of being his own boss and seeing many of the lower contiguous states. Paul Clifton Hamilton is survived by his siblings, Mildred Steinecke, of Chippewa, PA, John (Alice) Hamilton of Aliquippa, PA, and Alice Thompson of Conway, PA, his children, Paul Charles Hamilton (Joan) of Tualatin, OR, Faith Steury (Thomas) and Wayne Hamilton (Shawn) of Knoxville, TN, Timothy Hamilton (Krista) of Paducah, KY, and grandchildren Andrew Hamilton (Laura) of West Sacramento, CA, Joy Herrin of Knoxville, TN, Sean Hamilton of Tualatin, OR, Alexa and Chandler Hamilton of Knoxville, TN, and Ashleigh and Lindsay Hamilton of Paducah, KY, and great-grand child, Teddy Hamilton of West Sacramento, CA, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. Paul was preceded in death by wife Sally Hamilton, son Robert Hamilton, parents, Floyd and Mary Hamilton, and siblings, Jane Jackson, Helen Edwards, James Hamilton, Mary Lou Black, and Martha Black. Paul’s focus was faith, humor, cross-word puzzles, Scrabble, current events, and sports. He loved telling jokes to everyone he met. He also relished in discussing politics with friends and family. He played basketball in high school and college and enjoyed many years of participating in church softball, as well as being an avid fan of the Tennessee Vols. Paul was a long time member of Berean Bible Church and attended Sevier Heights Baptist Church for many years. He taught Sunday School and developed lifelong friendships at each church. Family will have a service at Mynatt Funeral Home, Halls Chapel, on Saturday, November 21 at 4:00p.m. The burial service will be held at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery on John Sevier Highway at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 25. Due to the COVID virus, there will be no public visitation. Services will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/hallslivestream. The family requires masks and social distancing for each service. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Camp Ta-Pa-Win-Go, in care of Children’s Bible Mission at PO Box 188, Watauga, TN 37694 or to The Arc - Jefferson, Clear Creek & Gilpin Counties at the link below. https://www.arcjc.org/ Online condolences may be expressed at mynattfh@gmail.com.