Carl Hamby

Carl L. Hamby Lt. Col. Carl L. Hamby, retired Air Force Fighter Pilot, died March 6, 2015, 11 days before his 83rd birthday surrounded by family and friends. Carl was born Carl Lee Hamby, March 17, 1932, in Yuba, Oklahoma to Tom and Lottie Hamby. Carl's father died when he was 3 and Lottie moved the family, Carl and his sister Mary, to Southern California. Carl graduated from Santa Monica HS and enjoyed cars and the slide guitar and performed in a band during high school. Carl then went into the Air Force pilot training program and made the Air Force his career. Carl married Caroline, who preceded him in death in 2003, and had three sons, Carl L. Jr., a realtor in Fort Mohave, AZ, Mark, an attorney in Tulsa, OK, and Gerald, who preceded Carl in death. In addition, Carl has two grandchildren, Carl L. III, of Boulder City, NV, and Stephanie M. of Tacoma, WA. Carl has also been blessed with a great-granddaughter Jordyn of Boulder City, now 7. Carl also looked forward to a second great-granddaughter who is due in June, Stephanie's first. Carl served two tours of duty in Viet Nam and was a member of the River Rats', those fighter pilots who completed 100 missions over N. Viet Nam. Carl retired after 25 years in Las Vegas, NV, where the family lived during Carl's last assignment at Nellis AFB. During his career, Carl flew F-105s in Viet Nam and later taught young pilots to fly F-111s at Nellis. Carl had friends from the Air Force who lived all over, as well as friends made since retirement. In 1992, Carl and Caroline moved to Wickenburg, AZ, where Carl pursued his love of classic cars, especially Hudsons, the car Carl loved in his youth. In 2004, Carl married Yolanda who survives him and who provided him with a happy and contented final chapter in Carl's life. Yolanda was at Carl's side when he died. A Catholic Mass is set for 10 am on Wednesday, March 11, 2015, at St. Anthony's in Wickenburg. Burial will be on Friday, March 13, in Boulder City, NV.