Donald Lewis Hamlin

On June 17, 2024, Donald Lewis Hamlin, 89, of Brooklyn Park, passed away after a brief illness. Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, he attended Southern High School, participating in Stage Crew, Acapella Choir and was senior class vice-president of the class of ’53.  After high school he served eight years in the Navy Reserve at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, and worked briefly for the B&O Railroad before settling into a career as a salesman for Chase Brass and Copper and Industrial Supply Corporation, until his retirement in 1997. It was during the years immediately after high school that Don went with a friend on a double-blind date and met the love of his life, Janice Smith. They married in June of 1958, and welcomed Carole in 1962, and John 1965.

His years were full of personal highlights: Carole and John both graduated from high school and college. Carole met Ray Seeling, and they married in 1987; John met Caryn Tormollan and they married in 1991. Grandchildren Adam and Gretchen Seeling came along in 1990 and 1993, and Allison and Kendall Hamlin in 1994 and 1997. He attended Allison’s wedding to Joshua Pagan in 2019, and 2021 he met his great-granddaughter, Rowan Pagan.

He and Janice loved traveling and vacationing with the kids and grandkids, most often to Rehoboth Beach, DE and Myrtle Beach, SC, and a couple of trips to Walt Disney World among other destinations. The most memorable of these was the 2008 Caribbean Cruise to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. He was an avid Orioles and Colts – and later Ravens – fan, and he and Janice bowled for years in that special brand of Baltimore bowling: Duck Pins. In his retirement he was a Meals on Wheels volunteer with Janice and his granddaughter Kendall. Of course everyone endures sad times, and Don was no exception. His parents, Jack and Violet, passed, as did his sister Doris. His grandson Stanley was stillborn, and the saddest of all was Janice’s passing in February of 2018. 

He is survived by his daughter Carole Seeling (Ray) and son John Hamlin (Caryn), grandchildren Adam Seeling, Gretchen Seeling, Allison Pagan (Josh) and Kendall Hamlin, great granddaughter Rowan Pagan, sisters in law Barbara Ohler, Doris Adkins (Woodie) and Vickie Smith, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Through it all, good times and bad, he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and a warm and loyal family member and friend. He will be missed. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to St. Jude’s Hospital for Children.