Billy Lee Hamilton, 92, of Unionville, Indiana passed away Tuesday, November 25, 2025 in Bloomington, Indiana.

He was the oldest son of Leo and Zetta Hamilton (née Ray), born in Owensboro, Kentucky on June 11, 1933. He graduated from Owensboro Technical High School in 1951. He enlisted in the US Navy during the Korean War and served in the Pacific and Sea of Japan. After the war he returned to Kentucky, where he met and married his wife of 68 years. Together they moved to Waukegan, Illinois where he received technical training at Great Lakes Naval Base’s “C” Class as a Fire Control Technician. Afterward, he served additional duty at sea, stationed out of Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. Upon his return, he spent 3 years teaching in the Naval ROTC program at Purdue University, concluding his 12 years of military service. He worked for RCA in Indianapolis for a year after his military service, then returned as a civilian at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane for the balance of his career, retiring in 1989.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Fredrick, Richard, Earl, and Gene Hamilton.

He is survived by his spouse, Zonia Gail Hamilton (née Hendrix); son Paul (Lisa) of Austin, Texas, daughter Charlotte (Sam) Colvert of Newnan, Georgia, son Billy Hamilton of Unionville, Indiana; and granddaughters Mary and Sara.

The funeral service will be held at 1:30pm Monday, December 1st at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Fordsville, Kentucky with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 11am to 1pm Monday at Geary Funeral Home in Fordsville, Kentucky.