U.S. Navy Commander (retired) B.C. Hamilton passed away very peacefully August 18, 2017 in Granbury, Texas. Private memorial service will be held at a later date.
Billie Cline (B.C.) was born on June 5, 1922 in Wagoner, Oklahoma. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, B.C. joined the United States Navy and began flight training in Beeville, Texas and completed flight school in Pensacola, Florida.
B.C. met Margaret, the love of his life in Van Buren, Arkansas prior to the war and they were married in Van Buren, Arkansas on September 8, 1944. They moved to Pensacola, Florida where B.C., with his natural flying capabilities, was assigned as a flight instructor for the duration of the war. After the war they moved to Oxford, Mississippi where he finished his undergraduate degree in Business from Ole Miss. From there his Navy career took them to Rhode Island, Virginia, Florida, California, Hawaii, Mississippi, Marshalls Islands in the South Pacific and Japan. During B.C.’s distinguished flying career on various aircraft carriers he flew a Stearman, SBD Dive Bomber, F-4 Wildcat, F-6 Hellcat, F-8 Bearcat, F-4U Cousair and A3D Skywarrior.
After his retirement from the Navy in 1965, the family moved to Texas from the Marshalls Islands in the South Pacific and established a home in Arlington, Texas. In 1974, he and Margaret moved to Granbury where they made lifelong friends within the community of Pecan Plantation Country Club playing bridge and participating in other Club events.
B.C. was preceded in death by oldest son, Edward Hamilton; and by his wife Margaret.
He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Newstead; son Bob Hamilton and wife, Clare; and grandchildren.
