HAMBY, Carl Lee

Wickenburg Funeral Home & Crematory, Wickenburg, Arizona Carl Lee Hamby March 17, 1932 - March 6, 2015 Carl Lee Hamby, age 82, passed away March 6, 2015 in Sun City West, Arizona. Carl was born March 17, 1932 in Yuba, Oklahoma to Thomas & Lottie Hamby. He served in the U.S. AirForce for over 23 years retiring at the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was preceded in death by his wife Caroline Janet Hamby in 2003 and a son Gerald Hamby. Carl is survived by his wife Yolanda Hamby of Wickenburg, Sons Carl Hamby, Jr. of Bull Head City, Az and Mark Hamby of Tulso, Oklahoma. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 10:00 AM at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Wickenburg with interment in Boulder City Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada to follow on Friday, March 13, 2015. ~~~~~~~~~~~ The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona Wednesday, March 11, 2015 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 Lee Hamby was born March 17, 1932, in Yuba, Okla., 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 High School 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. They had three sons, Carl L. Jr., a realtor in Fort Mohave; Mark, an attorney in Tulsa; and Gerald, who preceded Carl in death. In addition, Carl has two grandchildren, Carl L. III, of Boulder City, Nev., and Stephanie M. of Tacoma, Wash. 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, Nev., 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 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 a.m. Wednesday, March 11 at St. Anthony’s in Wickenburg. Burial will be on Friday, March 13, in Boulder City. Friends may offer online condolences at www.wickenburgfuneralhome.com Arrangements are under the direction of Wickenburg Funeral Home & Crematory.