Jim was born June 29, 1948 in Oklahoma City to Betty West Hamilton and J. C. Hamilton Jr. The family moved to Tulsa later that year. Jim graduated from Edison High School and attended Oklahoma State University as well as taking courses from The University of Oklahoma and The University of Tulsa.

The bulk of his life was spent working in the family owned auto parts warehouse, J. C. Hamilton Co. He was instrumental in the construction of their last warehouse, and supervised the computer installation for the company for many years. After the company was sold, Hamilton entered the oil and gas drilling business and was lucky enough to participate in several producing wells that lasted a number of years. He briefly owned a record store on Peoria and while doing so, hosted one of the shortest-lived radio shows ever. The show lasted exactly one hour and, though sponsored by his record store, was canceled by the radio station because the show played music not on the station�s play list.

He loved to fish and was lucky enough to fish in five countries and several states, with catches consisting of an 11 pound bass, 9 pound trout, 5 pound Arctic Greyling, 150 pound Mako shark, and was half of a team that caught 6 sailfish and over fifty yellow fin tuna in one day. One of his favorite places in the world was the White River below Bull Shoals Dam in Arkansas. Another love was travel. Hamilton was able to visit 20 countries and at least 40 states, spending time in Honduras and Spain. He volunteered time for more than two years with the American Red Cross, working as a Disaster Action Team member, assessing damage to local properties after various disasters. He also gave blood for a number of years, and in one year was privileged to make 30 aphaeresis donations in one twelve month span. He also dabbled with writing, winning minor awards for poetry and publishing one short story in an internationally published magazine. He completed a novel that was rejected for publication enough times to cause him to quit writing.

He is survived by his daughter, Johanna Knipfer, two sisters, Karen Hamilton Fraser and Linda Hamilton Welch, and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of a service, Jim has requested donations to your favorite charity and a toast to his life. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233