​Gladys Hamilton of Lucknow remembered for her quick wit and endless stories of local history

Gladys Irene Hamilton (nee Gibson) of Lucknow, beloved Mother, Gran and Great-Granny, died peacefully, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. She was 92.

Born April 23, 1933, in Ashfield Township, she was the daughter of the late Sam and Esther Gibson.
In 1952, she married her life-love, Alvin (Al) Hamilton, whom she lost too soon in 1993 after a wonderful partnership of 41 years.

Survived by her children, Patti Lee of London, Ken of Ridgetown, Barb Van Diepenbeek of Lucknow, Steve (Wendy) of Baptiste Lake, Alberta, and Joan (Steve) Chamney of Lucknow.

Gladys was a mentor, coach, teacher and advisor to her grandchildren, Duane Lee, Amy and Gary Burbine, Jim and Tania Lee, Jennifer and Al Stobie, John Van Diepenbeek, Sean Hamilton, Stefanie and Justin MacDonald, Sarah and Jesse Hainsworth, Matt Hamilton, Amanda Appleby, Ashton and Dawson Smith, Davin (Bud) and Shelby Chamney, Colton and Blaire Chamney, and Jordan and Taylor Crawford.

She will be missed by 19 great-grandchildren, many who loved to decorate her walls and windows with art.

Gladys was predeceased by her siblings, Roy and Evelyn Gibson, Catherine Crocker, Dorothy and Dinnie Hamilton, Ernie and Mary Gibson, and Dave Gibson; siblings-in-law, Jim and Amanda Hamilton, Bud Hamilton, and Bonnie Hamilton; sons-in-law, Tom Lee and Peter Van Diepenbeek; and companion, Allan Hackett.

She is survived by her siblings, Cookie and Paul Wardle, John Crocker, Carolyn and Chris Brown, Valerie Gibson, and George and Pat Gibson, Josie Hamilton and Lorne Hamilton.

One Sunday, Gladys and Al couldn’t buy ice cream in town for their family, so they bought the Mayfair Restaurant which they owned for 24 years.

They enjoyed their own bits of paradise at their summer home at the end of the12th of Ashfield and in Citrus Ridge, Florida, where she wintered until 2012.

Gladys was an avid sports fan, having played professional baseball as a young person, and was quite famous in town for her competitive attitude and advice on the sport. At the age of 60, she picked up a golf club and excelled at the game. She had a quick wit that brought laughter to many, and her stories of local history were endless.

Her wish was to be cremated and laid with her husband.

Following a private family committal service at Greenhill Cemetery in Lucknow, everyone is welcome to share stories and fellowship in the Lucknow Arena’s Paul Henderson Hall, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, from 2-5 p.m.

Donations to Lucknow Minor Sports, Lucknow United Church or the Rowbust Dragonboat Racing Team (Breast Cancer Survivors), would be greatly appreciated as expressions of sympathy; arrangements entrusted to the MacKenzie and McCreath Funeral Home, Lucknow.

Condolences on-line at www.mackenzieandmccreath.com.