William Frederick Hampton

William "Bill" Hampton, 84, of Rock Island, IL, died Wednesday, March 7, 2012. Visitation will be Thursday, March 15th, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at Wendt Funeral Home in Moline, IL, with Masonic Rites conducted by Milan Eureka Masonic Lodge #69 AF&AM at 7:30 p.m.. Services will be held at the funeral home, on Friday, March 16th, at 12:00 noon, after a two-hour visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m.. Burial will be at National Cemetery on Arsenal Island, Rock Island, with Military Honors accorded by American Legion Post #246 of Moline. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Disabled American Veterans William Frederick Hampton was born November 7, 1927, in rural Knox County, IL, the fifth of several children of William and Violet (Mead) Hampton. He attended Viola and Aledo schools. Bill left home at the age of 17, to join the U.S. Navy, following the hero path of his two older brothers, Ed and Kenneth. He served on the USS Passumpsic in the post-WWII Pacific during his active duty years of 1946 to 1948. He was in the Naval Reserve. While employed at the Rock Island Arsenal, he was a machinist, printing press operator, and Union Steward, retiring in February 1980. He also worked at Fuller's Printing, and Printing Unlimited. He was married to Mary Martha Sims in 1949, and later married Lois Partlow Meredith in 1970. Bill regularly attended many different churches with his family. He was a Master Mason in the Aledo Lodge #252, joining in 1956, and transferred to the Milan Eureka Lodge #69 in 1977. He was presented with a 50-year pin in June of 2007. He was also a 50-year member of the Aledo Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, served as president of Moline Zal Grotto, belonged to the Milan Blue Lodge, Milan High-12, and the Rock Island Moose Lodge. He enjoyed gardening, playing cards, collecting stamps, and being "out to sea". Survivors include: children, Penny (Greg) Logan of Highlands Ranch, CO, Terry (Karl) Mester of Normal, IL, Michael (Connie) Hampton of Portland, OR, and Patty (Robert) Cook of Rock Island; brother, Dwight Hampton of Silvis, IL; sisters-in-law, Cynthia Hampton of Joliet, IL, and Sally Godshall of Ozark, AR; eleven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by, sisters, Betty Jo Robbins and Claudia DeMarlie, and brothers: Edmond, Kenneth, and Robert Hampton.

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