George Hamilton, a WWII vet active in missions and ministry, dies at 102

George Hamilton, a World War II veteran who faithfully served his church and went on missions trips until he was 95, died April 21. He was 102.

At age 19, Hamilton joined the Navy and was sent to the North Pacific to serve during WWII. He committed his life to Christ five years after the war ended. For decades after that, he served faithfully as a deacon and Royal Ambassadors director and in other roles.

His wife, Lynda, died in 2000, and in 2004 when he was in his early 80s, he heard a sermon that changed his life. The sermon talked about relinquishing control to God, the truth that Jesus can’t be Savior of someone’s life and not also be Lord of his or her whole life. Upon hearing that, he knew his whole life needed to be about Jesus, wherever he went and whatever he did.

Hamilton dove in even more at his church — Bethel Baptist in Pleasant Grove — and began going on missions trips to Nicaragua, which he continued until he was 95. He rotated off as an active deacon at age 99.

“The last 18 years have been the most productive years of my life,” Hamilton said in 2022. “I have been so blessed, double blessed since then (2004).”