Leland W Hamilton
Leland W Hamilton passed peacefully, surrounded by love and family, on August 13, 2022. Leland (or “Pops”) was a beloved figure in his community and beyond. He greeted everyone, strangers and old friends, with a warm smile and his favorite phrase/life motto: “Praise the Lord!”
A lifelong West Texan, Leland was born to Charles Culberson Hamilton and Zella Viola Harris on the red dirt plains around Loraine on September 8, 1924. A child of the Great Depression, he would later recall the hardships and simple joys of this era. He told stories of working long hours in the cotton fields alongside his parents and three brothers, and how his mother would crumble warm cornbread into a glass of fresh milk, a treat he’d enjoy for the rest of his life.
Leland spent one semester at what is today Texas State University in San Marcos before joining the Navy. As the Pacific theater of World War II heated up, he was assigned to the USS Pennsylvania. Leland manned the number two turret, which fired three 14-inch guns. In 1944, the Pennsylvania fired more rounds on the enemy than any other ship and narrowly missed being torpedoed four times. The Pennsylvania was the only battleship to take part in every amphibious combat operation from Attu Island to Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines. Leland was aboard her for every engagement except for the first and last. He was a proud veteran to his final day.
After the war ended, Leland returned home and married a pretty, dark-haired gal named Ramona Hock. The young couple moved to Andrews in 1955. Leland opened his own TV repair shop, and, as anyone who’s ever driven around town with him knew, he had been inside nearly every home built before 1975 fixing their television set. Mona and Leland had four children, who all grew up in Andrews. Later in life, Leland sold Chevrolets, winning several awards for being one of the most successful salesmen in the state.
Mona died of leukemia in 1995. He later married Joyce Roberts, a longtime music teacher and pianist. The two of them spent 26 wonderful years together. The couple poured their time and passion into Kairos Prison Ministry,
regularly going into state penitentiaries to share their faith. The inmates, many of whom he loved like family, gave him the nickname Pops.
Several generations of West Texans will remember Pops as the Number One Andrews Mustang Superfan. For the past three decades, he could be found five days a week at the high school mentoring student-athletes. Few things brought him more joy than cheering on the black and gold. He was named a Lifetime Member of the Mustang Booster Club for his steadfast show of support over the years.
During his seven decades in Andrews, Leland was an active member of Means Memorial United Methodist, First Baptist Church, and most recently City of Refuge. He was a longtime supporter of Walk to Emmaus, Lions Club, and Mesquite Burners, and participated in many community organizations. He and Joyce received the Pioneer Award in 2015. That same year, he published a book about his life. Its title, of course, is Praise the Lord.
Leland loved fishing on the Pecos River and growing bluebonnets and wildflowers in his yard. He was a master of pulling pranks and was always quick to laugh. He spent countless hours walking around town in his trademark suspenders. He was a fountain of wit and wisdom. And he taught his grandkids there was never a bad time for peanut butter and Ritz with a Coke.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Harris, Lynn, and Darwin (Gunny); and his first wife of 47 years, Mona. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; his four children, Richard and wife Cathy Hamilton, Angela and husband Bryan Vaughan, Brenda Wind, and Julia and husband Scott Wallace; two stepchildren, Carol and husband Bill Gulley, and David and wife Christi Nix; 23 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-greatgrandchildren.
The breadth of Leland’s legacy is impossible to contain here. But to his family and many, many friends, Leland was a steadfast beam of light and love. We feel so blessed that he chose to shine that light here, illuminating the way for the rest of us.
Please join us for a celebration of life at the Andrews High School Performance Center on Saturday, August 20 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please send any donations to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch (calfarley. org) or the Andrews Mustang Booster Club for the Leland Hamilton Scholarship Fund.
