William "Bill" Hamilton

William Walter “Bill” Hamilton, 65, of Indianapolis, died peacefully in his sleep on May 29, 2022. He was born February 25, 1957, in Indianapolis, Indiana, and made it his home for life. Bill was a 1975 graduate of North Central High School and attended University of Kentucky.

He is survived by his stepfather Jerry Hall; sister, Pam (Jack) Mahoney; stepbrothers: Steven (Sherry) and Larry (Lisa), and stepsister Vickie Ogline (Fred); nephews: Michael (Alexandra) Mahoney, Bill (Katie) Mahoney, Bryan Hall; niece, Maddie Mahoney; and great nephews, Luca and Hudson. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Thomas Hamilton and Joyce Lillian Hall. Just a few years ago, through an Ancestry DNA test, Bill was surprised and delighted to learn that he had a biological daughter, and he took great pleasure in starting to get to know her and her beautiful family.

Bill was an exceptional golfer, and his early life centered around the golf course and the friendships he made there. He grew up playing at Hillcrest Country Club, where his talent for the game became apparent at a young age. His first year at North Central, Bill was the 1972-73 IHSAA Boys Golf Individual State Champion. He earned a full-ride scholarship for golf and played for University of Kentucky. He made life-long friends on the junior golf circuit, traveling to countless golf courses and engaging in endless shenanigans along the way. Bill was always up for having a good time.

As a young adult, Bill dreamed of putting his good looks and quick wit to use and aspired to be an actor or comedian. He waited tables at night at several restaurants around town, among them George’s and Ruth’s Chris, and worked on his acting career during the day. While he never did get that big, breakthrough role, he did star in a local movie and appear in some sizable ad campaigns. Seeing a giant image of Bill’s face on a billboard on I465 or greeting guests at the airport always brought a smile, as did happening upon his image in a full-page ad while flipping through a national magazine.

Bill embraced his role as “Uncle Bill” to his nephews and niece when they were young and shared a special bond with his godson, Billy. Raised by his father to love all things Green Bay Packers, he remained a steadfast and passionate fan, always willing to share his “expertise,” especially when watching a game at a bar. He was a loyal and of course vocal Indiana Pacers fan as well, and he spent many evenings watching games with his mom while keeping her company in her later years.

Bill was challenged with a variety of health issues throughout most of his adult life. He leaned on his deep faith in God, his family – especially his devoted mother, and the companionship of his pets for support and comfort. His beloved dog Russell was by his side through some particularly difficult years. Bill’s family is thankful for the friends, strangers, healthcare providers, and good Samaritans who offered him assistance over the years. He could be a difficult guy to help. Despite his own struggles, or perhaps because of them, Bill had a big heart and compassion for those with nowhere else to turn, providing a ride, a place to sleep, or an extra set of hands when he found himself able.

Friends familiar with Bill’s decades-long quest for quality sleep will find it ironic that he died in his bed wearing his CPAP mask, apparently asleep at last.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at 11:00 AM at Leppert Mortuary – Nora Chapel, 740 E. 86th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 AM until the time of service.

Since Bill was known to say that he liked dogs more than most humans, contributions in his memory may be made to IndyHumane, 7929 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46268 ( http://indyhumane.org/ ).

Please visit www.leppertmortuary.com to share a condolence or memory. Bill’s family would love for you to share your stories about him.