Joe W. Hamlin passed peacefully at home with his wife by his side on Saturday, July 30, 2022. He was born to parents R.E. and Densel Clifford Hamlin in Tulsa, Oklahoma on September 23, 1945. He completed his public education with his graduation from Tulsa Edison in 1963 and began his collegiate years at the University of Oklahoma in the fall of that year.

Joe was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and served as president of his chapter for a year during his undergraduate years. During his senior year at OU, mutual friends arranged a blind date for Joe with a coed named Patty Mollison; that date resulted in a whirlwind romance with their wedding taking place eight months later on October 7, 1967 in Altus, Oklahoma. In true Sooner fashion that date was chosen on the bye weekend before their beloved Sooners played Texas so that their friends and wedding party could be present. Their two sons, Jason S. Hamlin and the late Christopher C. Hamlin were born some years later. Joe and Patty were two months short of their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary at the time of his death.

Joe was graduated with a BS degree in economics and began law school at OU the next fall. After his first year of law school, he opted to take his commission as a Second Lieutenant from the Army ROTC program. He trained briefly at Ft. Knox, Kentucky and was then stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas before he received orders to Vietnam. Prior to that deployment, he was sent to U.S. Army Intelligence School at Ft. Holabird, Maryland for training as a combat intelligence officer. In Vietnam he served as an intelligence officer in the Phoenix program in Hoa Tu. He was awarded the Bronze Star with V device, ARCOM with V device, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Combat Infantry Badge, and Expert Rifleman badge with M-16 and pistol.

Joe returned from Vietnam in May of 1971 as a First Lieutenant and immediately continued his law school studies in June. He was graduated from the University of Oklahoma Law School in May of 1973, passed the Bar Exam, and was sworn in and admitted to practice in the State Courts of Oklahoma. He was later admitted to practice in the Federal District Courts of Oklahoma. He and his wife Patty moved to Lawton in June that year where he would begin the private practice of law for thirty-four years and then retired when health issues required him to do so. He served as the President of the Comanche County Bar Association from 1976-1977.

In the Lawton community, Joe served on the board of The United Way and The Salvation Army. He was also a consistent supporter of St. Jude's Children's Hospital, as well as many Lawton Public School activities and fund raisers.

Joe loved many sports, but OU football, golf, and baseball were his favorites. Both his sons were introduced to golf by their dad not long after they were able to walk, and Joe could be found on the golf course most weekends playing with his regular group, all of whom loved to compete and perhaps place a wager or two to make the competition more fun.

While Jason and Chris were in elementary school, Joe helped coach and support their basketball and baseball teams. He enjoyed watching and helping his sons develop their athletic skills, and no matter what sport the boys played, it was a family affair to be at each game. The boys continued with golf as they grew older, and there were many trips made together for tournaments. He took great pride in all their accomplishments and enjoyed sharing those special times with Jason and Chris.

Joe loved his family deeply, worked hard to provide for them, and rarely asked for or expected anything for himself. One of his greatest joys was the arrival of the first grandchild, Cooper and then finally granddaughter Mollison (Molli). His eyes lit up anytime he could spend time with the grands.

For those of you who knew Joe, you will remember his wit, charm, that twinkle in his eyes, his orneriness, and his great smile. He was a sharply dressed man, a gentleman, and he cared deeply for his family and for his friends. We are grateful for the time that he was ours, and thankful that he is now healed and with God.

He was preceded in death by son Christopher, his parents, his brother R.E. "Sonny" Hamlin and wife Edith, and his parents-in-law, Dr. Mac and Dorothy Mollison. Those left to cherish their memories of him are his wife, Patty Mollison Hamlin; his son Jason, wife Joanne, and their daughter Molli; grandson Cooper and his mother Alison Green; his sister Dixie Burton Crawford; nieces Leslie Burton Foley, Marcy Burton, and Amy Burton Stern, husband Blaine, and son Sam; niece Lee Ann Short, and nephew Randy Hamlin; sister-in-law, the Reverend Suzanne Mollison and brother-in-law, Richard A. Mollison.

The family is incredibly grateful for the love and care from such special friends and neighbors who ran errands, kept us fed, checked up on us, and ran over to assist at a moment's notice. We also are grateful for the angels from Kindful Hospice who lovingly and cheerfully cared for Joe in his final weeks.

A private family graveside service with military honors will be held at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Oklahoma in the fall.