Orin Hampton

ORIN A. HAMPTON IDAHO FALLS, ID -- Orin Arthur Hampton, 91, of Ammon, passed away of natural causes July 8, 2007, at the home of his son, Bruce, in Grant, Idaho. He was born June 30, 1916, in Keeline, Wyoming, to Benjamin John Hampton and Winnie Dell Lee Hampton. His early years were spent in eastern Wyoming and in western Nebraska. At the age of 13 his family moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, where he graduated from Twin Falls High School and trained to become a plaster. He served as a Staff Sergeant in the 397th Air Service Squadron with the U. S. Army Air Corps during World War II in China as a prop mechanic. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also a member of the Cement Masons and Plasters Union (Local 629) for 40 years, and worked on the Civic Auditorium, county courthouses in Rigby and Malad, Sacred Heart and LDS Hospitals, Palisades Dam, Ogden Temple and other projects throughout the West. He retired in 1981. Upon returning home from the war he went to a dance where he met his beloved Velma. They married July 2, 1946, in Elko, Nevada, and were later sealed in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple August 2, 1975. Together they resided in Twin Falls and Blackfoot, Idaho; Henderson, Nevada; and Woods Cross, Utah, before moving to Ammon, Idaho, 45 years ago. Orin loved dancing with his sweetheart, Velma, and they spent many happy hours at the senior citizen centers in Ririe, Shelley, and Blackfoot. He was devoted to his family and worked hard to provide a good life for all of them. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Orin served as a scoutmaster in the BSA, dance director and High Priest Quorum Secretary. He enjoyed fly fishing, hunting, gardening, baseball and boxing. He is survived by his six children, Ron (Ellie) Hampton, Idaho Falls; Gary Hampton, Idaho Falls; Rodger (Debbie) Hampton, Rexburg; Bruce (Renae) Hampton, Grant; Douglas (Beverly) Hampton, Layton, Utah; and Margene (Steve) Reed, Mt. Sterling, Utah; his sisters, Geraldine Madland, Lueanne (Gene) Hopwood, and Ardith Berney, all of Twin Falls, Idaho. 18 loving grandchildren & 10 darling great grandchildren. Orin was preceded in death by his wife, Velma Woodland Hampton, two brothers, Wade Hampton and Walter Hampton, and two sisters, Margaret Reed and Cecil Van Zante. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 14, 2007, at the Ammon LDS 5th Ward, 2055 South Ammon Road. The family will visit with friends Friday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge, and Saturday morning from 10:00 to 10:45 at the church. Burial will be in the Grove City Cemetery in Blackfoot under the direction of Wood Funeral Home in Idaho Falls. Military Rites will be performed by the Idaho Honor Guard. The family would like to express sincere appreciation to Aspen Home Health & Hospice for their kindness and compassion. ------------------------------------- Condolences received online: Jim VanZante, Sr. AZ1KID@aol.com Hello to all of my cousins and their families. Many of "the families" I have, regrettably, never had the opportunity to meet, yet. This is Jim Van Zante, Sr., down here in Florence, Arizona. I am very sad to hear of the passing of Uncle Orin. For the same reason that I have not met many of my cousins' wives or husbands, I have not had the opportunity to see Uncle Orin for many years. Those reasons being opportunity, time, and distance! At times like this, one realizes how fragile and faulty that reasoning really is!! I am ashamed and very sorry that I will not be able to attend Uncle Orin's funeral, but I wanted to write to you all and express my deep-felt condolences. Even though I haven't seen Uncle Orin for many years, he has always been in my mind and heart. He was always very good to me when I was a kid! Uncle Orin, Uncle Watts, and Uncle Wade were all very special to me when we lived on the farm between Buhl and Filer, and then on the one near Jerome. During this same time-frame – late 1940's & 1950's, whenever we would go visit Grandpa and Grandma in Twin Falls – usually on a Sunday – if I was lucky, Ron and Gary might be there for my sisters and I to play "tag" or "hide and seek" or "kick-the-can" with. Rodger was pretty small (then) and Bruce was just a baby (I hope I have you guys in the right order!!). Douglas and Margene were still twinkles in Aunt Velma and Uncle Orin's eyes at this time! At my Mom's funeral in Twin Falls in February, 2006, Ron stood up and relayed one of Uncle Orin's memories that Uncle Orin had of my mom when she was just a little, young girl, and had just told this story to Ron when Uncle Orin learned of my Mom's passing. I had never heard that story before. It meant a lot to me for Uncle Orin to have passed along that old memory of my mom to all of us. It meant a lot to me to have Ron make the effort to pass that memory on to my sisters and me! This will be with my for the rest of my life. I only wish I could be there to give something like that memory back to all of you – my cousins – my family, to help ease your sorrow! Love to all, Jim V. Z. Chelsea Giles scrappy1giles@yahoo.com To Bruce and family: We are so sorry for your loss. Hope you know how much we love you guys and we're thinking of you. Sorry we couldn't be there with you. Much love. Steve, Chelsea and the girls The Dodson family We were sorry to read of Orin's passing. Mom still has wonderful memories of time spent with Velma and Orin - in fact she can recall where your folks lived in TF when they were first married. Carole Vee, Barbara, Patty, and Layne Norma Reed normareed@rtci.net Your Dad, my Uncle Orin, was a wonderful person. I was very sorry that I could not attend his services. You were all in my heart that day. One of my earliest memories of Uncle Orin was at Christmastime, year unknown, but he was home from China on furlough (I think he was home from China, but I know he was on furlough) and he went with our family to the Christmas program at the Cedar Draw Schoolhouse. Barbara, Ruth, and I were little kids but I remember that we sang White Christmas as a special request from Uncle Orin. We all loved him. I also remember when he and Aunt Velma started seeing one another. She was always such a classy lady, and I thought even when I was a little kid that they made a wonderful team. It was so nice for me to get better acquainted with Margene and Renae lately and I hope to see more of all of you in the future. A special warm wish for Gary. And to Renae for her constant care and love. With love to all of you, Norma