Walter Henry Hamlin

Walter Henry Hamlin, 89, passed away Sunday, November 20, 2022, at his residence with his loving family by his side. Walter was the son of the late William and Martha Hamlin. For 60 yrs Walter was devoted to his late wife Bell E. Hamlin.

Walter is survived by his daughter, Toby Hamlin, son, Mark Hamlin/Maribella, son, Shawn Hamlin/Joy, son, Nathan Hamlin, and daughter, Ruth Gallagher, and his five grandchildren, Stephen, Labeeb, Najah, Venus, and Salim, as well as his dear first cousins Picolia and Judy. Walter is predeceased by his siblings Pherndena, Bobby, Celestine, and Shirley.

Walter was born on a farm in Homeville, Virginia in 1933. As a youth, his family moved to New York where he grew up in Catskill and Albany. By trade, Walter was a professional offset printer. He worked as the on-campus printery Supervisor at the State University at Albany until he retired. Always a hard worker, as a preteen during the Great Depression, he worked multiple night jobs after school, giving all his earnings to help the family. He was a member of neighborhood gangs and began using his fists to solve problems. In his early teens things shifted. He was introduced to Bible truths that dramatically changed his thinking and life course. Walter seriously studied the Bible and made changes. At the age of 14, he became a devoted Jehovah's Witness. In his twenties, he had the privilege of serving as a full-time volunteer at Brooklyn Bethel in the early 1950s. Thereafter to the present, he served as a minister in various congregations in the Capital District.

Following the example of Jesus, Walter treasured and zealously shared the good news of God's Kingdom, including the hope of Job and the prophets of old, that of a resurrection to life on a peaceful earth with restored youth and vigor reunited with loved ones. (Psalms 37:10,11) Without letup, Walter made life-long adjustments molding his thoughts and actions around Christ's principles.

Walter was known as a giver who didn't "let his right hand know what his left was doing"; light-hearted with a sense of humor, a patient listener, a loving father, grandfather, and trustworthy friend who strove to make others feel at ease when in distress. With "camera in hand" he developed a deep love for documenting the lives of family and friends with the lens. With great joy he shared his archives and memories with others. Together, with his wife Bell, they were known as humble people with an open door policy, self-sacrificing, and voicing gratitude. They enjoyed camping, traveling to the Adirondacks, Bermuda, Greece, Australia, and Fiji, going to Broadway musicals, entertaining, cracking walnuts as well as jokes, and sharing memories around the dining room table with family and friends.

The memorial service will be held on December 10, 2022, 3pm at the Albany Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses located at 400 Albany-Shaker Rd. Albany, NY. The family would like to thank family, friends, hospital staff, neighbors, and workmates for their loving and kind support.