Darrell Reid Hamilton, 78, husband of Barbara Donnell Hamilton, passed away on Friday, December 26, 2025 at home surrounded by his family. Darrell was born in Lexington on August 17, 1947 to the late Herschel Reid and Veneda Hall Hamilton.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, James Darrell Hamilton, grandparents Grant and Callie Hall and Buford and Virginia Manley, father-in-law James Donnell, Sr., sister-in-law Wilma Donnell, and nephew Ray Allen Donnell, Jr.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, his daughter and son-in-law Mary Virginia and Brian Duffy and grandchildren Reid and Ann Marie Duffy all of Westchester, OH.

Darrell is also survived by his sister Gay Robinson (Richard) of Georgetown. Other survivors include his mother-in-law Ann Showalter of Lexington, his sister-in-law Mary Faust, brothers-in-law Ray Donnell, Sr. (Jayne), and James Donnell, Jr. (Gloria) all of Versailles. Survivors also include his nephews Jason Wachter (Erica) of Stamping Ground and Beau Robinson of Lexington and nieces Tracy Nasholds (Kirt) of Raleigh, NC, Melissa Wood of Salvisa, Ann Ernst (Jay) of Cincinnati, and Lacy Robinson of Louisville. 

Darrell graduated from Lafayette HS, where he was a standout baseball player, and attended Eastern KY University. He was a Veteran of the US Navy and served aboard the USS John F Kennedy Aircraft Carrier when it was first commissioned during the war in Viet Nam. Darrell was a certified electrician and then became a self-employed residential builder. He was an avid fan of thoroughbred horse racing, having owned and held interest in several successful horses through the years.

Funeral Service will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, January 2, 2026 at Clark Funeral Home, Rose Hill. Burial will follow at Rose Crest Cemetery. Serving as casketbearers will be Brian Duffy, Reid Duffy, James Donnell, Ray Donnell, Richard Robinson, Beau Robinson, and Jason Wachter. Visitation will be held from 12:00pm until the time of service on Friday, January 2, 2026 at Clark Funeral Home, Rose Hill. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bluegrass Care Navigators.