More detail on this person: Army Aviation Hall
of Fame 1986 Inductee. HAMILTON, Robert L.--
passed away in Los Gatos on Tuesday, March 19,
2002 at the age of 65. Born in Hanford. on May 21,
1936, Bob was raised in Merced, CA where he met
his wife, Carol. He joined the Army in 1954 and
they were married in Germany in 1956. He retired
at the Pentagon as Chief Warrant Officer 4, after
an illustrious career in Army Aviation. During his
twenty-one years in the Army, he served two tours
in Viet-Nam as a Master Aviator, accumulating the
Distinguished Flying Cross, two Bronze Stars,
thirty Air Medals and the Legion of Merit ...
resulting in his being inducted into the Hall of
Fame in 1986. Upon his retirement, he and his
family returned to California, settling in Los
Gatos, where they took over the family business,
the Los Gatos Shade Shop. His love of flying led
him again to aviation where he was a pilot for
Saratoga Savings and Loan, Terra Commercial and
Head of Operations for Aris Helicopter. He became
very involved in the Los Gatos community. He
served as Los Gatos Town Council Member,
President of Los Gatos Boys Baseball, YMCA
Board Member, President of Kiwanis Club,
President of San Jose Airport Rotary and Board
Member of Saratoga Men's Club. He was also on
the Board of Los Gatos Museum, Secretary of
Northern California Aviators Club and was a Board
Member of the Santa Clara County Republican
Central Committee. Given all his Accomplishments
... none meant as much as the joy he derived from
his family.
He is survived by Carol, his wife of forty-five
years; two daughters, Susan Dias of Los Gatos and
Barbara And her husband Brad Fralick of Auburn; a
son, David and daughter-in-law Eily of Chicago;
six grandchildren, Lacey, Sarah, Amanda and
Madison Dias of Los Gatos, and Charlie and Ashley
Fralick of Auburn; a brother, Dick and
sister-in-law Mary Ann Hamilton of Auburn; and a
sister, Jo Ann and brother-in-law Jim Washburn of
San Jose and sister-in-law Sandy King of Merced.
Nieces and nephews include Richard King Jr.,
Susan Brooks and Sally Anderson of Merced, Mary
Beth Hamilton and Jeff Hamilton of Aspen, CO and
Chris Wells of Auburn, Jim Sands of San Jose, and
his father, Roy Hamilton, who was a long-time
resident of Los Gatos. Bob was a loyal and
cherished friend to countless people.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March
23, 2002 at 2:00 p.m. at DARLING-FISCHER
CHAPEL OF THE HILLS, 615 N. Santa Cruz
Avenue in Los Gatos. Burial will take place at
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. The
family respectfully requests no floral gifts.
Donations may be made in Bob's name to any
hospice or the charity of your choice.
Published in the San Jose Mercury News on
3/22/2002.
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 07/12/2025
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