Susan Silk Hamilton, 78, died of heart failure on May 7, 2021 at Integris Hospice House in Oklahoma City, surrounded by her five children and sister.
Born on April 6, 1943, in New Brighton, PA, to Bradford J. Silk, Sr. and Mavis R. Silk, Susan lived much of her early life in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. She grew up with her brother Bradford J. Silk, Jr. (Peggy) of Leetsdale, PA, sister Bonnie Ufert of Pittsburgh, and brother Douglas Silk of Ben Avon, PA. Susan graduated from Bellevue High School in 1960, where she was a cheerleader, sang choir, played the saxophone and excelled as an academic. She loved music and dated guys who were great dancers or drove beautiful cars. She met her future husband, John Joseph Hamilton Jr., in high school. Susan attended Shippensburg University, where she studied business, and the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied English. She was also part of a couple figure skating duo.
Susan has been her family’s top priority throughout her life. Though separated by distance, their adult children stay very close and continue to vacation together.
Due to her husband’s career in retail, Susan moved her family many times. She lived in Rockville, MD (1968-71); King of Prussia, PA (1971-72); Centerville, VA (1972-74); Bethel Park, PA (1974-77); Rochester Hills, MI (1977-81); Warren, PA (1981-83); Mountain Top, PA (1983-85); West View, PA (1985-86); Plano, TX (1986-87); Edmond, OK (1987-2003); Simi Valley, CA (2003-10). She returned to Norman in 2010 and spent Saturdays cheering on the Sooners.
In 1987 Susan returned to serve as an administrative assistant to the Dean of the College of Mathematics and Science at the University of Central Oklahoma. From 2002 to 2010 she was an executive assistant at Countrywide Mortgage / Bank of America. Most recently she worked as a teaching assistant and test coordinator for Norman High School. She retired in 2020.
Susan loved to travel, visit England, Austria, Argentina and cross the US. She also enjoyed reading, writing, taking photos, swimming, playing the piano, and most importantly, listening to music. Susan had over 27,000 songs in her library and passed on a deep love of music, hackneyed love songs and ballads to her children.
There aren’t enough words to describe the fascinating woman Susan was – lively, wild, strong-willed, adventurous, loving, funny, sweet, protective. She had chewing gum and was a bear.
Susan’s family will always keep her close and keep her with them in their hearts and minds. Their joy in life will live on through their children and grandchildren.
Susan is survived by her five children, Diane (Todd) Van Etten of Carolina Beach, NC. Julie (Paul) Edwards of Broadlands, VA; Jennifer Hamilton (Ben Purcell) of Marina del Rey, California; Nancy (Brian) Springer of Ventura, CA; and JJ Hamilton of Norman, OK; her eight grandchildren TJ, Susan, Michael, Drew, Elise, Eileen, Serena, and Oliver; and many nieces and nephews. Susan was a second mother to Mindy Morris from Yukon, OK, and Esteban Mendez from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She will miss her two beloved boxers Josie and Ellie terribly. With her open-minded manner and bubbly personality, Susan easily made friends who were scattered across the country and dear to her.
Susan’s family would like to thank the 801 ICU nursing staff at Baptist Integris for the wonderful care and Dr. Sparling and its employees for the years of support. Instead of flowers, the family is making donations to the American Heart Association for aneurysm research. A private celebration of life will be held in one of Susan’s favorite locations, North Carolina’s Outer Banks, next year and a tree will be planted in her honor in Tuscany, Italy.
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