Reverend Paul E. Hamlin, BHS 1934

The Reverend Paul E. HAMLIN (Age 94)

The Reverend Hamlin had a quick, dry wit and twinkling blue eyes. He was as noted for his one-liners as he was for his intuitive comforting words. He was kind, generous and compassionate. Born in 1915 in Chicago, he was the eldest of four. His family moved to California where he was raised in (then rural) Hollywood/Burbank. He came of age during the Great Depression and remembered having his shoes resoled with tire treads, cleaning chicken coops, milking goats, and getting his driving license at age 13, the legal age at the time!

A good student at Burbank High School, he excelled in running track, and set a record 4:39 minute mile which remained unbroken for over thirty years. During these years he became active in Scouting, where he developed his appreciation for hiking in the mountains. He eventually obtained the level of Eagle Scout, climbed Mount Rainier and the Great Pyramid in Egypt.

After high school, he felt Called to the ministry and began memorizing hundreds of scripture verses which he always remembered. He entered UCLA and worked his way through college by driving a school bus and working at the Post Office. He graduated with degrees in History and Philosophy, and then entered Baptist seminary, where he learned to read Greek and earned his Master's in Theology. He was Ordained a Minister and remained so for the rest of his life. In 1940 he married his college sweetheart Bette Hadsell, and five years later they began their family having three children who were born about one year apart.

Paul took his first pastorate at Bremerton Baptist. From there he served a Baptist congregation in Richland which was meeting in a movie theater! He helped them plan and break ground for their church building and then joined the Methodist Conference. He served Methodist churches in LaCrosse, Tekoa/Farmington, Kent, Spokane (Manito) and Tacoma (Asbury). He eventually retired from the active ministry and was hired by the Pierce County Family Court

Commissioners as a Marriage Counselor. During this time he volunteered to serve as Chaplain for McNeill Island Penitentiary, commuting weekly across the water.

During his years of pastoring, he performed numerous marriages, baptisms, and funerals, and for many summers was Director of "Junior Camp" at Twinlow. He continued to grow spiritually attending numerous CFO's (Camps Farthest Out). He and his wife Bette always had a weekly Friday night date to go Square Dancing, for which he "duded-up" in Western attire, and they enjoyed doing this for many years. At one time, Paul even became a Caller! The last group they belonged to was "Hix & Chix." Together, they built homes in Long Beach, and Gig Harbor. They planned to retire on Maui, Hawaii. But alas, after forty years of marriage, Bette passed away and he married Stella Hansen of Tekoa, who also passed. His third marriage to Daisy Grogg ended in divorce. He lived in Cleveland Ohio, continued attending CFO, and then returned to Spokane settling into Rockwood Manor, enjoying happy years of independent living and weekly ballroom dancing at the Senior Center.

Paul always loved to run for recreation as well as competition! He won many trophies and ribbons running everything from 3K's to 25K's, including the Coeur 'd Alene and LA Marathons, Sound-to-Narrows and Bloomsday. He actually ran until his knees gave out in his middle 80's! Always full of adventure, he obtained his pilot's license, enjoyed river-rafting, boating, even Disneyland, and especially cherished the times he spent with his children and grandchildren. He was a member of Central Methodist, Toastmasters, Rotary, Lion's Club, traveled to India, Europe, Australia, and the Holy Land, wrote a newspaper column, a booklet, The Spiritual Jogger, volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and Meals on Wheels. He continued to grow spiritually attending Church Services, Bible Study and praying. He cared deepy for others and touched many lives.

Paul is survived by brother Dr. Daniel Hamlin, daughter Sarah (Sherli) Jensen, son Steven Hamlin, daughter Pauline (Dixon) Hamlin, grandchildren Stephanie (Dixon) Orr, Heather (Jensen) Burtts, Scott Dixon, Betsy (Jensen) Clark and great-grandchildren Zoey Burtts and T. Samuel Burtts. Great-grandbaby Holden James Clark was born five days before Paul passed. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and great nephews and nieces.

Finally, Paul enjoyed reading the Spokesman Review, particularly the Obituaries! He joked many times, "Well, I just got done reading the obituaries, and my name wasn't there, so I guess I'm still alive & kickin'. " He passed away, peacefully on June 22, 2010. A Celebration of The Reverend Hamlin's life will be held August 1, 2010 at 2:00 pm in the main lounge of Rockwood Retirement South 2903 E 25th Ave, Spokane. The family requests any memorials to be sent to Shalom Ministries, 518 West 3rd Ave. Spokane, WA 99201-4304.

Published in Spokesman-Review from July 25 to July 26, 2010