May 22, 1934-Jan. 11, 2018
Service with military honors: 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home, El Dorado Springs. Burial: Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery, Springfield.
Mr. Hamby, 83, El Dorado Springs, died Thursday, Jan. 11, at Cox South Hospital, Springfield. He was born to John Raymond and Vina Merely (Taylor) Hamby in Perrin. His biological father deserted his family, wife and two daughters in July 1936. He spent his early life in the Forest Home area east of Stockton.
At the age of 14, he was denied the privilege of going to high school by his stepfather. He was asked to find a job and go on his own, so worked on farms and the Stockton Cheese Factory for two years.
At the age of 17, he lied about his age and joined the U.S. Army. After basic training, he spent one year in the Korean War on the front lines as a combat infantry rifleman and earned the rank of sergeant. On his birthday in 1953, at the age of 19, he was promoted to sergeant first class and became the platoon sergeant of 42 men. Returning to the states, he served as prison guard in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, for three and a half years.
He then schooled and trained to be a medic and spent the remainder of his career in the medical corp. During this time, he served 30 months in the Vietnam War with the 44th Medical Brigade, as first sergeant of the 24th evacuation hospital and sergeant major of plans and operations of the 44th Medical Brigade headquarters. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and the Bronze Star. After 20 years of service, he retired from the Army at the age of 37.
He was saved by his Lord Jesus Christ at an early age. He strayed away from the Lord for many years, but in later years thanked God for redemption.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; a niece, Anita Greenstreet; a nephew, Randy Davis; two half-brothers, John Hamby and Jack Hamby; a half-sister, Patricia Hamby; and several great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Vina (Taylor) Hamby Floyd; two wives, Major Myrl (Marian) White and Darlene Schlizmyer; two sisters, Wanda Lorene Spencer and Mary Lou Davis; two infant brothers, Ernie Elton and Louie Dale; and a step-brother, Billy Lee Hamby.
Services are officiated by the Rev. Aaron Wardlaw. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warriors and left at the funeral home. Online condolences can be made at www.blandhackleman.com.
