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
Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters
Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list
Return to VHPA web site
Date posted on this site: 08/02/2021
Copyright © 1998 - 2021 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association