Hilda Hamilton

Hilda Dunn Hamilton, age 84, of Russellville died Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center. She was born March 22, 1931 at Centerville to the late Eugene and Della Vann Dunn. She was a member of the 5th and Greenwich Church of Christ in Russellville. Survivors include two children, Gary Hamilton (and Shirley) of Austin, TX, and Susan Nowstrup (and Dennis) of Austin, TX; two sisters, JoAnne Dale of Russellville and Donna Osborne of Russellville; grandchildren, Katherine Nowstrup of Austin, TX, Grace Nowstrup of Dallas, TX, and Camille Wilkerson of Austin, TX; great grandson, Gunnar Gentry of Austin, TX.  She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gerald Hamilton; two brothers, Bobby Dunn and Larry Dunn; and an infant sister, Rebecca Dunn.

Hilda loved vegetable and flower gardening; baking bread, cakes, and pies from scratch; making Christmas candy with friends; reading; canning homemade jams and jellies; and sewing. She married and moved to Pasadena, Texas in 1949 where she and Gerald raised their family, then they retired from Shell Oil Company and moved back home to Arkansas in 1984. She grew up in the country, lived in the suburbs in Texas, and enjoyed moving back to small town life in Arkansas. After returning to Arkansas, Hilda cared for her husband of 56 years through his years-long struggle with Alzheimer's disease.  Most recently she lived only a few houses in either direction from her best friends, her sisters Donna and JoAnne.

Hilda and her brother and sisters used their inheritance from their mother and father to make some memorable road trips to Yellowstone, Hoover Dam, Aspen, Reno, Valley Forge, Branson, the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore and California.

Our family will forever be grateful for the loving care that Hilda received for the last three years from Sara, Payton, Carmen, and the thoughtful neighbors who were so generous with their time and attention, without whom she could not have fulfilled her wish of remaining at home.  We also appreciate her numerous relatives and friends who visited so faithfully at home and in the hospital. Lastly, we want to thank the absolutely astounding nurses, aides, and patient advocate in ICU and PCU at St. Mary's, as well as Dr. King and Dr. Graves, for their consistently competent and compassionate care.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, February 6, 2016 at Cornwell Chapel with Bro. Anthony Sweeney officiating. Burial will be in Brearley Cemetery in Dardanelle. Visitation will be held Friday, 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM at the chapel.

Pallbearers will be her nephews Kenneth Osborne, Shelby Osborne, Chris Dale, Steven Dale, David Dunn, and Robert Dunn.

Honorary pallbearers will be John Hamilton and Steve Hamilton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to one of Hilda's favorite local organizations, MARVA Workshop, Inc. Mid-Arkansas River-Valley Abilities is a private non-profit hometown organization supporting its local citizens with disabilities. Contact Information: 1205 South Arkansas Avenue, Russellville, AR 72801. 479-968-4420.

Arrangements are by Cornwell Funeral Home in Dardanelle. Online guest book and condolences at www.cornwellfuneralhomes.com