Otis "Hamp" Erwin

Mr. Otis Hampton "Hamp" Erwin, age 96, of Murray, Kentucky, died peacefully on Thursday, February 28, 2019, at Hickory Woods Senior Living in Murray, Kentucky.
He was born in Calloway County, Kentucky to the late William Duke and Beulah (Geurin) Erwin on February 7, 1923. He graduated from Lynn Grove High School in 1942 and joined the Army Air Corps on August 5, 1942. He served in the Pacific during World War II. After the end of World War II, he returned to Murray to attend Murray State University and teach flying. He was recalled to active duty with the Air Force in 1948 and served until his retirement in 1969, flying propeller and jet fighters, transports, helicopters and other miscellaneous aircraft during World War II and the Korean War. While in the Air Force, he received a B.S. degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and also taught for several years at the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. He received numerous awards, decorations and citations during his military service. Mr. Erwin was the first pilot in the Commonwealth of Kentucky to receive the Department of Transportation Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for 50 years of flying without an accident. Mr. Erwin was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Murray Rotary Club.
Preceding him in death were his parents, a brother, Carlos C. Erwin, three sisters, Opal Rogers, Eupal Underwood and Ruby Howe.
His wife, Barbara Nelle Harris, to whom he was married on July 30, 1950, survives him. He is also survived by a daughter, Anne Erwin Dill of St. Louis, Missouri, a son, Mark Hampton Erwin and wife Gloria of Thompsons Station, Tennessee, a grandson, Cole Hampton Erwin, a step-grandson, Myers Dill and wife Christine, a step-great granddaughter, Lucia Frances Dill, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 4, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home with Dr. Rick Dye and Rev. Jim Stahler officiating. Burial will follow in the Murray City Cemetery. Visitation will be held prior to the funeral service on Monday, March 4, 2019 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy can be made to the First United Methodist Church, 503 Maple Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071 or to the Experimental Aircraft Associations' Young Eagles Program, EAA Aviation Center, 3000 Poberezny Road, Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54903.
Online condolences can be left at, www.thejhchurchillfuneralhome.com