~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, NWA Capt. William J. Hampton
August 15, 1941 ~ October 23, 2016
Sunday, June 25, 2017 2:58 PM
From: ~ Carol for the PCN
Subject: UPDATE/OBITUARY to: RNPA News: Bill Hampton
Has Flown West.
Hampton, William J. (Bill)
Retired Northwest Airlines Captain, died on October 23, 2016. Bill battled
Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia for five years and was finally free
to make his last flight home. Bill is survived by his loving and very loved wife
Laura of St. Paul, MN, his daughter Wendy Kennedy (Todd), one sister Janice
Mattingly (Bruce) and two brothers, Tom (Sue) and Robert and grandchildren,
nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. His son Billy and his mother and father,
Josephine and William Hampton, preceded him in death. Bill was born on August
15, 1941 in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up there and graduated from DePauw
University in Greencastle, Indiana. While there Bill completed Air Force ROTC,
followed by 5 years in the Air Force and 2 years in the Air Force Reserves. Bill
became a commercial airline pilot for Northwest Airlines, flew for 28 years and
retired in 1996. Bill and Laura were married in July 1979. They had an adventure
filled marriage. They lived in Bloomington, MN from 1979-1985 then moved to Ft.
Lauderdale, FL. In the summer of 1991 they bought and restored an old Victorian
house in Moultonboro, NH and commuted between Florida and New Hampshire for the
next 22 years, spending winters in Florida and summers in New Hampshire. Lots of
domestic and international travel kept Bill and Laura on the move, in between
work trips. During their East Coast years, Bill was very active in the
Lauderdale Yacht Club, several Air and Sea shows in Florida; First Presbyterian
Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Center Harbor New Hampshire Congregational
Church; and the Barnstormer's Summer Theatre in Tamworth, New Hampshire. Bill
loved boats, cars, and projects. During his life he sailed his 1969 Allied Sea
Wind ketch on the Atlantic Ocean, motored his 1937 Chris Craft runabout on Lake
Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, and traveled the highways in his 1963 Mercedes
convertible. Later Bill and Laura took many road trips in their Airstream. Their
two cats, Crinkle and Thor (both rescued from shelters) were always included in
these trips. Bill had a very soft side, and his family, including his two cats,
were very important to him. As Bill's Health declined, Bill and Laura returned
to MN in 2015 and Laura cared for Bill for many months. When Bill needed
additional care, he lived at Prelude Memory Care Center in Woodbury, MN where he
was cared for by a very loving and competent staff, and also received much love,
care and support from Laura, until he died. He continued to bring smiles to
staff and visitors alike with his witty words and telling looks. The Prelude and
Hospice staff members were a wonderful source of comfort and care to both Bill
and Laura. Bill's body was donated to the University of Minnesota's Anatomy
Bequest Program for research, with the hope that someday there will be a cure
for both Parkinson's Disease and Lewy-Body Dementia, two diseases that took the
life of this unique, loving and brilliant man. A memorial service will be held
at Ft Snelling National Cemetery on June 20th at 11 AM. As a veteran and a very
patriotic soul, Bill would be honored to know he has flags and fellow servicemen
surrounding him. He'll also be able to hear those beloved planes roaring
overhead.
From: RNPA News Sent: Saturday, October 29,
2016 10:00 AM Subject: RNPA News: Bill Hampton Has Flown
West.
Ron Potter
writes.
Retired NWA pilot Bill Hampton
passed away Sunday, Oct. 23rd.
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