J. Paul Hamilton, Sr.

Joseph Paul (J. Paul) Hamilton, Sr., 79, of Cleveland, Tenn., died May 30, 2009, at a local nursing home. A life-long resident of Mouse Creek Valley in Bradley County, Tenn., Hamilton was born October 4, 1929, the 12th and youngest child of Albert Henry and Grace Griffin Hamilton. Hamilton is survived by his wife of 58 years, Wilma Jean Carden Hamilton and son Joseph (Joe) Hamilton, Jr., of Cleveland, Tenn.; daughter Jan and her husband, Robert Powell , of Chattanooga, Tenn.; son Jeffery (Jeff), his wife, Donna, and children, Jessica and Dylan, of Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.; daughter Jennifer and her husband, George Blankenship, and children, Jacob and Natalie, of Elizabethton, Tenn.; sister Nina Longbrake of Big Bear, California and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and other beloved family members. Hamilton graduated in 1949 from Bradley Central High School, where he lettered in football. In 1950, he was employed by DuPont Nylon Co. in Chattanooga, Tenn. In addition, he operated a farm, selling beef cattle, tobacco and strawberries, and developed residential real estate. In 1983 he retired from DuPont, and he owned and operated JPH Builders with his son, Joe. He developed Mapleton Subdivision and Mapleton Forest. Hamilton was elected Bradley County Quarterly Court District 3 Justice of the Peace 1966-1970. He served on the board of the Lower Hiwassee River Watershed Development Association, an organization of community leaders in Bradley, Polk and McMinn Counties. While Representing District 3, he was a leading proponent of a new Bradley Central High School which opened on South Lee Highway in 1972. He was a member of North Lee Ruritan Club for 42 years. In 1976 Hamilton was named North Lee precinct committeeman by the Bradley County Election Commission. He also served as a Republican member of the Bradley County Election Commission 1979-1981. As a teenager, Hamilton joined Valley Head United Methodist Church where he remained an active member. He was a Sunday school teacher, steward, lay leader, supervised construction of a fellowship hall and maintenance of the church buildings. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday June 2, 2009 at Fike Funeral Home, 2415, North Ocoee St. Cleveland, Tn. with the Reverend Lyle White officiating. Interment will follow in the Sunset Memorial Gardens with nephews, Robert Owen Hamilton, Albert Hayden Hamilton, Keith Askew, Tim Askew and Zachary Carden and great-nephews, Gale Miller, Howard Hamilton and Tom Cloud serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are the Valley Head United Methodist Church Adult Sunday School class. The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Valley Head United Methodist Church, c/o Treasurer, 447 Benttree Dr. NW, Cleveland, TN 37312 and North Lee Ruritan Club, c/o Treasurer, 975 Cardinal Lane NW, Cleveland, TN 37312.