Richard T. Hamilton, Sr., 76, a 50 year resident of Ashland, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family after a courageous 10 year battle with cancer. He was the husband of Barbara J. (Caldwell Patton) Hamilton to whom he was married for 45 years and was a devoted family man. He was born in Newton, MA on March 15, 1933 to the late Carl N. and Alice M.. (Stahl) Hamilton and was raised in Wellesley Hills where he was a 1951 graduate of Wellesley High School. Dick worked with his brother Ken's company, The Horticulturist, Inc., for 27 years. After his brother's death, he was self-employed for 6 years before his illness forced him to retire in 2008. He previously worked for Jet Spray as well as E G & G where he participated in atomic bomb testing in the South Pacific. He was active in civic affairs in Ashland where he was an original member of the Ashland Cable Access Committee and in Goshen, NH where he was a member of the Conservation Commission. Dick had many passions, including recording daily weather statistics for 42 years. He was an avid snowmobiler since the early 1970's and was a 17 year past President of The Twin Ridge Mountaineers Snowmobile Club in Goshen, NH where he and his wife maintained a second home and enjoyed many friendships. Other passions included camping, hiking, birding, yard work and gardening. He took great pride in planting flowers and had one of the best landscaped yards around. His biggest passion was his family whom he loved dearly, especially his grandchildren. He loved family cookouts, holiday gatherings, weekly hot dogs and beans nights and was renowned as the leader of many a conga line and for his corny jokes. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons: Stephen Patton and his wife, Wendy, of Pottsville, PA and Scott Patton and his wife, Nancy, of Medford; six daughters: Debra Davenport of Norway, ME, Susan Ross and her husband, Mark, of Sandy, UT, Diana Rousseau and her husband, Tom, of Fitchburg, Sally Halcovage of Pottsville, PA, Dale Hamilton of Keene, NH and Sandra Owen, and her husband, David, of Ashland. He also leaves 14 grandchildren, Stephen Patton Jr., Mellisa and Roy Ames, Christian, Katie, Kelly and Matthew Ross, Marysa and Becky Rousseau, Meg and Michael Halcovage, Jr., Alicia Hamilton and Liz and Tim Owen as well as 6 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves his brother Carl N. (Jay) Hamilton, Jr., and his wife, Carolyn, of South Yarmouth, his sister, Judith A. Boucher of East Orleans and his sister-in-law, Dottie Hamilton of Framingham. He is pre-deceased by his son Richard T. Hamilton, Jr., his daughter Dawn M. Hamilton, his brother Kenneth S. Hamilton and his brother-in-law, Robert Boucher. Donations in his memory can be made to: Metrowest HomeCare and Hospice, Attention: John Epson, 85 Lincoln Street, Framingham, MA 01702. Please include Richard's name.