Harold Hamblin

Bossier City, LA- Harold L. Hamblin, was born May 28, 1934 in Bloomington, IL. He passed away, August 29, 2008 in Dallas, TX due to surgery complications. Harold Hamblin saw his first airplane at the 1938 World's Fair, Chicago, Illinois and it was an immediate lifetime love of aviation that he never lost. He soloed and obtained his private pilots license at age 16. He obtained his Mechanical Engineering degree at Southern Illinois University and served 2 years in the U.S. Army. He became a pilot for Eastern Airlines, one of the oldest and largest airlines in the world in 1961. He flew all aircraft from the DC 3 to the super jumbo jets before retiring as Captain after 29 years at Eastern. In his career he was privileged to meet many aviation pioneers, Eastern Air founder WWI flying ace Eddie Richenbacker, Dick Merrill and astronaut Frank Borman, CEO Eastern. He was awarded the distinguished Wright Brothers Master Pilots Award in 2005 by the FAA for a distinguished career as a pilot. He married his wife Brenda, an Eastern Airlines Stewardess in 1968. He was a member of Eastern's Air Safety Board, ALPA, Eastern Retired Pilots Assoc. and the Experimental Aircraft Assoc. He worked as an aviation consultant after Eastern being one of the founders of Presidential Airlines, Longs Beach, CA and Casino Airlines of Dallas, TX. He and Brenda left many friends at the Eastern bases of Atlanta, Washington D.C., Miami, Chicago and Houston. They moved to Bossier City in their retirement becoming active with their hobby; thoroughbred horses. Harold got his Trainers License and trained out of the Magnolia Farm at the Benton Training Center. He is also a member of the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Assoc. and the HBPA. He was preceeded in death by his parents Leon and Fay Lee Hamblin. Left to cherish his memory is his wife Brenda Nations Hamblin, daughter; Stephanie N. Hamblin, sister; Carolyn and Ray Biles, and nephews Bobby, Greg and David Biles and families of Philadelphia, Steve Mibbs and Balke and Tracey Nations, Bossier City, nieces Allison Maxwell of New York and Britt Lea of Houston, Brother in law Reed and Elaine Nations of Springhill, and sister in law Jan and Greg Lea of Houston. "Not many people have been the places we've been- done the things we've done- and had the fun we've had." Captain Hamblin always felt he had one of the greatest jobs in the world as a pilot with a major airline. Funeral services will be held at Boone Funeral Home Chapel; Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Officiating will be Chaplain Jimmy Sistrunk of LA Downs Racetrack, assisted by Mark Hill Jr. Interment will be at Springhill Cemetery in Springhill, LA at 4:30 p.m. Visitation will be at the funeral home Monday night from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to Rev. Jimmy Sistrunk, Chaplin, Louisiana Downs, Backside Fund.