Ronney Harland Hamilton

Ronney “Ron” Harland Hamilton (1944-2025)

Radioman Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronney “Ron” Harland Hamilton, age 81, of Logan, Utah, passed peacefully and surrounded by loved ones on October 16, 2025.

Ron was born in Eagle Pass, Texas in 1944 to Chester and Beryl Hamilton. Ron attended North Muskegon High School in west Michigan before joining the United States Navy in 1963, at age 19.

Ron served in the Navy for four years, attaining the rank of Radioman Petty Officer 3rd Class before his honorable discharge and transfer into the Naval Reserves in 1967. He completed basic training in the Great Lakes Naval Station, near Chicago, Illinois. He then finished his Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) training at Bainbridge, Maryland in Radio Communications where he specialized in morse code and incoding and decoding top secret messages. During his MOS training in Maryland, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and Ron attended the funeral service at Arlington Cemetery. In 1964, Ron was assigned to the Vietnam Theater, where his division handled 22,000 to 35,000 messages per day. In 1965, he was assigned to a Destroyer Division on the USS Hanson DD-832 and fought in many battles along the river ways, coast, and bays of Vietnam, from De Nang to Saigon. His division set records fighting with shore batteries. While serving his country, Ron earned several medals and commendations, most notably the Vietnam Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the First Good Conduct Medal Award.

Ron was proud to be a veteran and became a member in the Marine Corps League and in the Cache Valley Veterans Association in Logan, Utah for several years. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 12076, where he was honored to be Commander for two years.

Ron married Nita Thompson in 1972 in the Los Angeles LDS Temple and became stepdad to Nita’s three sons. Ron and Nita had 29 amazing years together until Nita passed from cancer in October 2000.

In 2001, Ron met Christine Herman and became her forever warrior and soulmate. Ron and Christine were married in 2002 in the Provo LDS Temple and he became stepdad to seven more children. Ron and Christine shared 23 loving years together before his passing. Altogether combined through his two marriages, Ron was a beloved man to ten stepchildren, 41 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Outside of military service, Ron was an engineer at the Los Angeles LDS temple for 15 years. He then worked in the printing industry for two years. Ron then finished out his career as a professional truck driver, driving long-haul and seeing the country for 15 years until he retired.

Ron was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, devoting his time and energy to various callings. He was gifted with an incredible voice and was a tenor soloist. Ron sang with the Southern California Mormon Choir for about ten years, singing at the Salt Lake LDS Tabernacle and traveling abroad with the choir to several countries. He was also a member of the Imperial Glee Club in Logan. His beautiful voice often graced and comforted friends and families in remembering their loved ones during memorial services as he beautifully sang Amazing Grace.

Everyone who knew Ron also knew he felt strongly about volunteering and serving his community. With his grand smile, white beard, and “Ho-Ho” chuckle, Ron was a natural Santa Claus. Ron readily accepted invitations to both commercial and private holiday celebrations to “do his part to make sure kids have a good Christmas” for 35 years, of which 11 were accredited as a Professional Santa Claus. Ron also volunteered for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots for five years, two of which as the Area Director, ensuring over 7,000 kids enjoyed Christmas.

Ron will always be remembered for his huge smile, twinkling eyes, and gentle laugh. We couldn’t have asked for a better husband, father, and grandfather and will miss Ron every day. His memory will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.

Ron is survived by his adoring wife Christine, two sisters Cheryl (Bob) Hartman and Tammy (Rob) Smith, his stepchildren, and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Stepchildren with Christine are Jim (Susie - deceased) Alva, Deanna (Mark) Brklacich, Margaret (Mike) Cook, Alisyn (Rick) Thompson, Matthew (Cherise) Alva, Jonathan (Alexandra) Alva, and Christian (Catalina) Herman. Stepchildren with Nita are Larry (Judith) Nance, Jerry (Laurie) Nance, and Sherwood (Barbara – deceased) Nance.

Ron’s family welcomes all family, friends, and community to celebrate his life. Both the viewing and the funeral services will take place at the Logan Utah Stake Center located at 940 Three Point Avenue, Logan, Utah. Viewing services will take place on Friday, October 24, 2025 from 6 pm to 8 pm and additional viewing services will take place on Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 9:30 am to 10:30 am; followed by the funeral services from 11 am to 12 pm. Internment will then occur at the Salt Lake City Cemetery at 3 pm.

Ron’s family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at the Monument Health Pioneer Trail care center in Brigham City, Utah; and also want to thank the hospice team who helped make Ron’s last days comfortable and peaceful.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in Ron’s name to the Box Elder/Cache/Rich/and Franklin Counties chapter of Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots at logan-ut.toysfortots.org.