Ray W. (Wally) Hamilton

Ray W. (Wally) Hamilton passed away on Saturday, September 12, in Kirkland, WA, from complications from a stroke.He was born May 11, 1924 in Rock Springs, Wyoming to Ken and Avis (Joder) Hamilton.

The family moved to North Platte, Nebraska in 1926, where Wally grew up and graduated from North Platte HS in 1942. Wally then entered Iowa State College to study aeronautical engineering.

He joined The US Navy’s V-12 squadron in 1943 and graduated from ISS in 1945. He was soon commissioned as an Ensign and served in the Navy until 1949. Wally then moved to Seattle in 1950 to start work at Boeing. He and Ann (Schmitt) were married on February 11, 1956. Two daughters soon followed. He retired from Boeing in 1985 after working on many projects including the flap design for the 747.

He spent his retirement years skiing, golfing, traveling, boating, and enjoying his grandchildren. He especially loved spending summer months at Lake Crescent in the Olympic National Park where he water-skied well into his 70s.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ann; daughters Julie (Eric) Linde of Woodinville and Janet (John) Thonssen of Kirkland; four grandchildren: Allison (Brian) Schnell of Denver; Ian (Tera) Linde of Palo Alto, CA; Jason Thonssen of Kirkland, and Miles Linde of Palo Alto; greatgrandson, Edward Schnell of Denver; and his sister Marcia (Jens) Korstvedt of Frisco, Texas.

A celebration of Wally’s life will be held on Saturday, September 19, at 1:30 p.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church in Kirkland. A rosary will be prayed on Friday, September 18, at 7 p.m., also at Holy Family. Interment will be at a later date. Donations in lieu of flowers are requested to be sent to the St. Vincent DePaul Society at Holy Family Parish, 7045 120th Ave NE, Kirkland, WA, 98033, (http://hfkparish.com/) or to the Kirkland Kiwanis, 328 – 19th Ave, Kirkland, WA 98033 (www.kirklandkiwanis.org).