Obituaries - Saturday, October 31
Arthur "Art" Johann Hamilton
May 30, 1928 - October 29, 2026
Arthur “Art” Johann Hamilton, 98, formerly of Oberlin, died Thursday, October 29, 2026, in Salina.
He was born May 30, 1928, in Oberlin to Archibald and Lola (Koehler) Hamilton. He graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1947, where he played multiple sports. He received a track scholarship to KU but transferred to Fort Hays State after one semester to play football and run track and field.
At Fort Hays State he met Wilma Horner, and they married December 17, 1950, in Goodland. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1952 to 1956 during the Korean War, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base in the accounting department. After his discharge he completed his business degree at Fort Hays State.
He and Wilma moved to Oberlin, where they raised three children and he helped his father run Hamilton Oil Company, later expanding the business to include fertilizer and propane. They retired to Bella Vista, Arkansas, in 1993. In 2022 he moved to Salina to be closer to family.
He enjoyed woodworking, golf, bowling, square dancing, cards and traveling. He was a Mason for more than 70 years and served two-year terms as president of the Oberlin Country Club, the Good Sam’s Travel Club and the Oberlin Rotary Club. He belonged to the Methodist Church in Oberlin and the Presbyterian Church in Bella Vista.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Wilma; his daughter, Linda, and her husband, Randall Abla; and his sister, Mary, and her husband, Darrell Landau.
Survivors include a daughter, Marsha (Randal) Kinder; a son, Rohn (Kris) Hamilton; grandchildren Melissa Abla, Machelle (Caleb) Zook, James (Jordan) Abla, Aaron Hamilton, Brett Hamilton and Emily (Ryan) Bonilla; great-grandchildren Kennedy Zook, Kade Zook, Bennet Bonilla, Nora Bonilla and Callan Bonilla; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Graveside services will be determined at a later date. Burial will be at Oberlin Cemetery in Oberlin. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the donor’s choice in Arthur’s honor.
Ryan Mortuary & Crematory
