John Thomas Hamilton Jr., 82, of Olton died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018 at Runningwater Draw Care Center, concluding a lengthy battle with cancer.

He donated his body to Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. At his request, no services are planned at this time. Arrangements for his donation were made by Ramage Funeral Directors.

Born Oct. 12, 1935 at the family's home in rural Tarrant County, he was the son of John T. Hamilton Sr and Lucile Conliff Chism. He attended school in Abilene, Staton and Sterling City. He was a 1954 Sterling City High School graduate.

A U.S. Army veteran, he took basic training as Augusta, Ga. and served in Pakistan and Louisiana. He completed his service with U.S. Army Reserves.

With military service interrupting his studies on numerous occasions, he attended Angelo State University, West Texas A&M University and Sul Ross State University before graduating from North Texas State University with a degree in kinesiology as well as a teaching certificate.

He was a teacher, coach and bus driver for Borden County Schools, before joining his father in the service station business in Big Spring. He then operated fueling stations in Sweetwater, including Gage's Fina Truck Stop on Interstate 20, east of US 84. He then taught life skills and drug education classes at Corrections Corporation of America facilities in Sweetwater and Eden. He completed his career as a part-time worker at the Texas Workforce Commission office in Sweetwater.

Following some medical issues in 2012, he moved to Olton to be near his nephew, sister-in-law and other family members. He became a resident at Runningwater Draw Care Center in 2015, where he enjoyed watching football on television and playing bingo with the residents. He had been a Dallas Cowboys fan since 1960, collecting every Dallas Cowboys Weekly ever published.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lucile Hamilton of Big Spring; and a brother, Lowell R. Hamilton Sr. of Richardson, in 1988.

He is survived by his sister, Judy Hamilton-Cutright and husband Maurice of White Settlement; his sister-in-law, Doris Hamilton of Olton; a niece, Lorie Hamilton of Lubbock; three nephews, L. Ron Hamilton and wife Marsha of Arlington, Phillip L. Hamilton and wife Ursula of Olton, and Kenny Cutright and wife Jennifer of Saginaw; seven grandnephews or grandnieces, Clark Hamilton of Arlington, Sterling Hamilton of Olton, Shiloh Hamilton of Olton, Savannah Hamilton of Olton, Graham Cutright of Saginaw, Reed Cutright of Saginaw and Tatum Cutright of Saginaw; and numerous cousins.

The family suggests memorials to Runningwater Draw Care Center, P.O. Box 409, Olton, TX 79064; or Bethel Baptist Church Building Fund c/o Bethel Baptist Church, 1700 N. Interstate 27, Plainview, TX 79072.