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Local Couple Serves Community Via Church and Council
Author's Note: For the next few weeks, we will be rekindling the "Who's Who" section on the Williamsburg page, highlighting those who have had a positive influence on our small town. This week's pair is Bruce and Paula Hamilton, both current members of the Williamsburg Borough Council – the first time a husband and wife have both served.
For some, Williamsburg is a town where you grow up and leave, or a town where you return later in life.
But for Bruce Hamilton, and eventually his wife, Paula, Williamsburg has been a constant.
"It's hard to believe that the same exact bedroom I was delivered in by Doc Frye 71 years ago, is the same bedroom I woke up in today," Bruce said during a tour of his home.
Bruce is the son of Warren and Mary Hamilton.
"My dad," Bruce said, "was from the Ridge and my mother was from the Ganister area."
Besides Bruce, siblings Skip, Wannie, Betty, Colleen and Mininda were in the family. Following graduation from Williamsburg in 1967, Bruce joined the U.S. Air Force and served from 1967 to 1973. Bruce then worked at Penelec for 45 years before his retirement 6 years ago.
Love Story
When Bruce worked for Penelec, he worked for the Homer City Power Plant and on the weekends, Bruce would come home to be with his mom. During the trip from Homer City, he would pass through Duncansville, and he often would see a "beautiful blonde in a sweat suit," jogging on the streets of Duncansville, he said.
Eventually, this "beautiful blonde" (Paula) would become his wife, and they have been happily married ever since, for 32 years.
Paula, who teared up when asked about Bruce, said, "he's the love of my life, my best friend."
She said, "He's genuine, he's honest. I've never met a man who's so kind, who's so gentle."
Paula was not born and raised in Williamsburg like Bruce. She grew up in the Frankstown area. Paula is the daughter of Warren and Dorothy (Blackstone) Leaper. She grew up in a family of 12.
She is a 1977 graduate of Hollidaysburg Area High School. Upon graduation, she began serving in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany for four years, where her rank was Specialist 4. Paula then joined the workforce first at Nason Hospital, then in the purchasing department of the Cambria Co-Gen plant, from where she recently retired after 29 years.
Influence on the
Community
For Bruce and Paula Hamilton, Williamsburg is more than home, it's a place for one of their biggest passions, the church. Their church is Grace Point Community Church of God.
For Bruce, this has been his home church since birth.
"I was dedicated at this church 71 years ago," he said.
Besides other interests, both said that volunteering at the church was one of the most important things they do in retirement.
"We help out with Bible study. We also organize funeral meals," Paula said.
Grace Pointe Pastor Jim Spivey says of the couple, "Bruce and Paula are genuinely kind and generous people. Their love of the community and desire to serve is born out of their love of Christ. They are the kind of people that you can count on to show up and give of themselves to help. It is an honor to be their pastor and an even greater honor to be their friend."
But for both of the Hamiltons, the most important is their community.
Bruce said, "I just love the people of our town. They're genuinely good people, but unique. They also voice their opinion."
Bruce was appointed to the borough council in 2016. Paula was appointed to the council in 2020 following the resignation of Dr. Matthew Sabol.
"When someone is in need in this town, we all come together," Paula said with pride. "With a small town, that means a lot. When people are in crisis, there is always this community to support them – I love that. I travelled up Cresson Mountain for 29 years and we [Williamsburg residents] don't sometimes realize how fortunate we are to still have business in this town and how lucky we are to have businesses [that] we can even walk to," Paula said.
Their plans
For both of the Hamiltons, there are items on their agenda to do for the community.
Bruce would like to see a strip mall at the old paper mill grounds.
Paula wants to see more small businesses in the town.
"What we need to remember [is that] if the residents of this town don't support local businesses, this town will go nowhere," she said.
Paula hopes to instill a "buy local" mindset in Williamsburg residents.
"I love activities such as the Trail Town Market," she said, "but we need to find more, something that the residents will continue to support."
Others agree
Borough Manager Joe Lansberry said of the couple, "they are always involved with the fundraising for the organizations in the town and are always there to keep an eye on things during their daily walks."
Longtime friend Harry Mullins said of the couple, "I have known Bruce and Paula for many years and I will say they are one of the most charitable families in our community and both have their finger at the pulse of our community. I feel that they are a vital part of moving our community in a forward direction as we go through these changing times."
Both Paula and Bruce echo the sentiment that despite the need for more small businesses and even a grocery store, "with the community we have, there is a lot to be thankful for."
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