Edgar Blanton Hamilton, 84, died on March 25, 2017 after an extended illness. Ed was born in Charlotte, grew up in Atlanta and lived in Shelby, NC the last 50 years of his life. He went to Georgia Tech on a football scholarship where he graduated in 1955. Ed worked three years with Westinghouse Electric Corporation and served two years in the Army as a Lieutenant. He joined The First National Bank of Shelby where he worked for 50 years and became President, CEO and Chairman of the Board. He graduated from The Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the Executive Program at the University of North Carolina. While working for the bank, he was Chairman of the Advisory Board of the local Salvation Army, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Senior Warden at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, President of the Rotary Club, and elected Shelby's Citizen of the Year. He was Chairman of the Drive that raised the funds to build the Cleveland County Memorial Library building. He was also President of Shelby Loan and Mortgage Corporation.

Ed is survived by his wife of 58 years, Edith Moore Hamilton, the daughter of former North Carolina Governor Dan K. Moore, his daughter Jeanelle Hamilton Lovett, his son Edgar Blanton Hamilton, Jr., their spouses, eight grandchildren, and his brother Joseph W. Hamilton, Jr. of Atlanta.

The family would like to sincerely thank all of Ed's caregivers during his illness and especially Brenda Wright, Allison Greene and all of the nurses at the Wendover Hospice House of Cleveland County, as well as Susan Mead and Rosa Norris from Helping Hands.

Funeral services will be at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Shelby on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 2:00 pm. Reception will be immediately following the service in the fellowship hall. Burial will be after the reception at Sunset Cemetery

Contributions in Ed's honor may be sent to the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 502 W Sumter St, Shelby, NC 28150, the Salvation Army, 305 N. Lafayette Street, Shelby NC 28150 or Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby NC 28150.

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Mr. Hamilton.

Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com