Kenneth Dean Hamilton, Jr. (Hambone) went home to be with Jesus on February 28, 2025, at his home in LaVerne, California. He was born on June 21, 1950, in Dodge City, Kansas to Kenneth Dean Hamilton, Sr. and Norma Jean (Lembright) Hamilton.

Kenny attended Richland Valley Grade School, Dodge City Junior and Senior High Schools, and Dodge City Community College. He enlisted in the United States Army and served in Vietnam from December 1971 to December 1972. While serving, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic Vietnam Campaign Medal with device, Bronze Star Medal with device, Army Commendation Medal, and Good Conduct Medal.

He grew up on the farm south of Dodge City where family and friends called him Cotton and Kenny. He was a member of the Richland Boosters 4-H club for eight years participating in many projects including tractor, field crops, and horsemanship. Athletics were important to him: he played on the Richland Valley baseball and basketball teams, city league softball and basketball teams and was a member of the DCSHS varsity basketball team. He also coached the community baseball team as a teenager and adult. In high school he starred as Rolf in the musical Sound of Music.

After an honorable discharge from the Army, he briefly worked for Broce Construction then joined his dad in the farming business. He married Charlene Schriner and they had three sons. Later he married Pam Cossman and they had one daughter. In 1997, he married Gloria Martin.

After successfully farming for 27 years, Kenny and Gloria moved to California in 2000 where he worked for a home construction company and had his own handyman service. He also worked in Afghanistan as civilian support during Operation Enduring Freedom. He enjoyed the California sunshine but looked forward to returning to Kansas to help the "Hambone" cousins with harvest.

Kenny is survived by his wife, Gloria, of the home, and six grown children: Tony (Xyleene) Hamilton of the Philippines, Todd Hamilton of Dodge City, Travis (Adrianne) Hamilton of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Miranda (Nick) Becker of Pretty Prairie, Kansas, Shane (Kendra) Birkholz of Garden City, Kansas, and Abram Martin (Sherazad Shaikh) of Rancho Cucamonga, California, along with 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Other survivors include sisters Carol Jean (J.D.) Martin of Sharon, Kansas, Louise (Terry) Tegarden, Nancy Hampton, and brother, Terry (Nancy) Hamilton, all of Dodge City, many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. Kenny was preceded in death by his parents, Dean and Norma Jean Hamilton, and daughter, Camille Martin.

The family will receive friends on Friday, March 28, 3:00-6:00 p.m. at Swaim Funeral Chapel. Services will be held Saturday, March 29, 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Dodge City, Kansas. Burial will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery with military honors provided by KSARNG Funeral Detail and SWKS Veterans Funeral Honor Guard. Memorials are suggested to the United States Vietnam Memorial or the local VFW in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.