Leo J. Hamilton, 90, of Salem, N.H, formerly of Haverhill, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Salemhaven Nursing Home in Salem, N.H.
Born April 13, 1924, he was the son of John L. and Margaret D. (Scannell) Hamilton. Educated in Haverhill, he was a graduate of St. James Grammar School and St. James High School, class of 1942. A WWII Veteran, he proudly served on PT Boat 150, Squadron 12, in the U.S. Navy from 1943 until being honorably discharged as a Petty Officer Second Class, in 1946. He received the WWII victory Medal, American Theatre Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, and the Asiatic – Pacific Medal with 1 Bronze Star.
He began his career in the shoe manufacturing business in Haverhill. For 19 years Leo worked for Metropolitan Insurance Company. He then worked in the shipping and receiving department for the Western Electric Corporation in North Andover, retiring from Lucent Technologies in 1994.
He leaves his beloved wife of 67 years, Helen M. (Bailly) Hamilton, of Salem, N.H., 14 children; Jane E. Clarke and her husband, Daniel, of Salem, Joseph L. and his wife, Kathy, of Fla., Arthur R. and his wife, Sheila, of Salem, N.H., Margaret D. Solon, and her husband, Edward, of Brookline, Leo J., of Haverhill, Raymond G. and his wife, Jacqueline, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Maria H. Hamilton and her husband, James, of Andover, Matthew M., of Salem, N.H., Helen F. Fitzgerald, and her husband, Scott, of Bradford, Patrick M., of Plaistow, N.H., Frederick M. and his wife Patricia, of Acton, Christine A., of Haverhill, Richard E., of Neenah, Wisc., and Maura S., of Cambridge, 23 grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Friends and family are respectfully invited to call on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St. (Rte 125) Haverhill. Funeral services begin at 9: a.m., Monday morning, from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. James Church, Winter St. Haverhill. Burial with Military Honors will follow at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen, NH.