Family and friends will gather at the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home, Flowers Chapel to celebrate the life of Dr. Doyle Roach Hamilton, Jr. at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, May 18, 2011. Dr. George Gaston will officiate under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes of Monroe. Dr. Hamilton died peacefully at his home on Monday, May 16, 2011, surrounded by his family. He was 86 years old. Dr. Doyle Roach Hamilton, Jr., was born in Roanoke, Virginia on October 26, 1924. While an infant, he moved with his family to Cleveland, Ohio, and then to East Cleveland, Ohio where he attended primary and secondary schools. When he was fifteen, he and his family moved to Ashtabula, Ohio, where he graduated from high school in May of 1942. In the summer of 1942, Hamilton entered Louisiana College, which he attended until he was transferred in the V-12 College Training Program to Southwestern Louisiana Institute now U.L.L. in July 1943. His formal education was interrupted when he was transferred to premidshipmen's school, Asbury Park, New Jersey. This was followed by midshipmen's school at Fort Schyler, Bronx, New York, where he graduated in 1943, receiving his Commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy. He went immediately into active duty and served aboard the heavy cruiser, U.S.S. Louisville and later served in the China theatre aboard an L.S.T. and an L.C.I. While he served in Naha, Okinawa, Dr. Hamilton received the Commendation Ribbon from the U.S. Navy for having successfully headed a rescue team that had saved the lives of eight men from a sinking ship, damaged by a typhoon. Following his discharge from the Navy in 1946, Dr. Hamilton resumed his formal education during the summer session at Tulane University. After this, he entered the Tulane University School of Medicine, from which he graduated in May of 1950, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Following a rotating internship at the Charity Hospital, New Orleans, 1950-51, he completed a General Practice Residency at the Huey P. Long Charity Hospital, Pineville, Louisiana, 1951-52. During this residency, he married Jean Sproles of Delhi, Louisiana on August 30, 1951. Doyle was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Debbie Hamilton Pope. He is survived by his wife, Jean Sproles Hamilton; daughter, Brenda Hamilton Bonin and husband, Keith of Monroe, LA; son, Dr. Doyle R. Hamilton, III “Trey” and his wife, Salley of Atlanta, Georgia. He is also survived by his six grandchildren who lovingly called him “Doc”. These include Holly Husted Campbell and husband, Brian, Lindsey Husted Braddock and husband, Brett, Dr. Amy Bonin Christ and husband Justin, Henry Keith Bonin, Jr. and wife, Beth, Rebecca Bonin Flemister and husband, Tyler and Erin Hester Hamilton. He is also survived by six great-grandchildren who were the love of his life and enjoyed playing with him. These include William Michael Campbell, Thomas Hamilton Campbell, Stella Elizabeth Braddock, Tarver Mickel Braddock, Sophia Elizabeth Bonin and Eva Kay Christ. Dr. Hamilton entered the private practice of medicine and surgery in July of 1952, in Belzoni, Mississippi. In October of that year, he moved with his wife and new baby to Monroe, Louisiana where he was associated with the late Dr. A. Dent Tisdale, owner of the Riverside Hospital. Upon the closing of Riverside, in April of 1953, Dr. Hamilton relocated his practice to 1805 Jackson Street, where he remained until moving to 1203 North Fifth Street on February 14, 1994. The Jackson Street office property was donated to St. Francis Medical Center and is now the S.D. Hill Clinic. Dr. Hamilton held memberships in the American Medical Association; Louisiana Medical Society; Ouachita Medical Society, Inc. of which he served as past president; American Academy of Family Practice, from which he earned the title “Fellow”; Louisiana Academy of Family Practice; St. Francis Medical Center Staff, for which he served as past president, or Chief of Staff; Glenwood Regional Medical Center Staff; North Monroe Community Hospital Staff; and visiting staff of E. A. Conway Memorial Hospital, Monroe, Louisiana. Dr. Hamilton was a past president of the Fifth District of Academy of Family Practice; past president of the Y.M.C.A. Board of Directors, an office held for two years; past president of the Masur Museum Board of Directors; past president of the Ouachita Parish Parent's League. He also served on the Board of Directors of the following organizations: Twin City Council on Alcoholism; Carolyn Rose Strauss Rehabilitation center; Monroe Chamber of Commerce; United Way, in which he headed the Physicians' Unit for many years; American Diabetic Association, the Alanon Club and the Bayou DeSiard Country Club. He was appointed to the Professional Advisory Board of the Northeast Louisiana Chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation and served on the executive board of the St. Francis Medical Center as its secretary and was elected to serve on its governing board for three years, a first for St. Francis Medical Center. He was a member of the Bi-Racial Advisory Council for the Monroe City Schools; a member of the Monroe Beautification Board; and a member of the Board of Development of the Northeast Louisiana Baptist Student Union, which purchased land and built the Baptist Student Union Building that it now occupies on the campus of University of Louisiana Monroe. Hamilton served on the organizing Board of Directors of the Union Achievement Program, was a life member of the American Legion and was active in Rotary International, having served three years as a Director. He served on the executive board of the University of Louisiana Monroe Boosters. Dr. Hamilton was the physician in charge of the Miss Louisiana Pageant from 1953 until 2004. Since 1953, Dr. Hamilton has been listed in “Who's Who” in the South and Southwest. He served as a consultant for the Monroe Area Substance Abuse Center. At ULM, he was, for many years, guest lecturer on drug abuse. Dr. Hamilton served as the Director of Student Health at ULM from 1973 until 1976. He served three years as a member of the United States Postal Advisory Board. Since 1956, he was the physician in charge of medical care at the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home. Upon his 50 years of service there, he was honored for his love, guidance and sweet Christian spirit which blessed and influenced the lives of countless boys and girls. Dr. Hamilton served as the Charter Medical Director for the St. Francis Medical Center Home Health Department and the St. Francis Medical Center Extended Care Facility or “S.N.F.” and was an active member of the hospital's Cancer Committee for many years. During the installation and awards banquet at the Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians, held in Baton Rouge, Hamilton was awarded the “1999 State of Louisiana Family Doctor of the Year.” On October 25, 2001, Hamilton was named the winner of the Mother Gertrude Hennessy Humanitarian Award at St. Francis Medical Center's annual Sister Anne Marie Twohig Lectureship and Gala event. Hamilton was a member of Parkview Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, beginning in 1959. He was chairman of that group from 1977-78; was a Superintendent of the Young People's Sunday School Department, grades 10-11; and was organizer and past teacher of the Career Development, a department for single working people. He served his church as a trustee, a former member of the finance committee, and served as the annual budget promotion chairman. Dr. Hamilton retired from active practice on December 31, 2006. After retirement, he and Gigi enjoyed their time at home where “every day was Saturday.” Jean and Doyle would have been married 60 years in August of this year. The family would like to extend a special “thank you” to Shannon Newton, St. Joseph's Hospice, Alberta Williams, Cynthia and Betty Hubbard and their long time friend, Linda Jackson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dr. Doyle R. Hamilton Scholarship Fund at the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home, 7200 DeSiard, Monroe, LA 71203. Doyle donated his body to LSU School of Medicine so that others may learn as he did. Visitation will be 9:30 A.M. until service time, Wednesday, May 18, 2011, in the Rucker Austin Center at the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home.