Obituary and Funeral Information

I hope that his family won’t mind my posting Bill Hamblin’s obituary here.  Quite a number of people have asked me about it, and about funeral plans.  I’m deeply saddened to say that it seems that I myself will likely be unable to attend; my wife and I have long planned to be in the east on that date, spending Christmastime with my son and his family.

William James (Bill) Hamblin passed away suddenly from a cardiac event in Frisco, Texas on the afternoon of December 10, 2019 at the age of 65. He was born on December 1, 1954 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to William Kenneth Hamblin and Sarah Ann Peterlein. He grew up in Provo, Utah where he developed a love of travel and learning from a young age thanks to his father who had the same spirit of exploration.

Bill had a lifelong love of learning and teaching. He graduated from Provo High School and received his bachelor’s degree in history from BYU. He did his graduate studies at the University of Michigan, receiving a PH.D. in history in 1985. Bill worked briefly as a Middle East intelligence analyst for the United States Department of Defense before eventually joining the History faculty of Brigham Young University in 1989.

Bill was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His knowledge of the Book of Mormon and other scriptures was vast and comprehensive. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Italy from 1973-75. One day on his mission, Bill was transporting a trunk full of Books of Mormon to a zone meeting when he was robbed by members of a scooter gang. That day Bill came to hold the record for the most Books of Mormon distributed in a single day in Italy, a record he most likely still holds. 

As a professor at BYU, Bill was recognized as a specialist in Near Eastern history and the Crusades. He published numerous articles and wrote two books; “Solomon’s Temple” and ‘Warfare in the Ancient Near East to 1600 BC”. He also served as a board member of the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS) at BYU. During this time, he also taught for several years at the BYU Jerusalem Center, which was another highlight of his career.

Bill married Loree Peay on August, 2, 1977. Together they had three children: Ken, Karen, and Alex. They later divorced. Bill married Laura Behling Schroeder on February 19, 2019.

Bill adored his grandchildren and family and was known to always send funny videos showcasing his new gadgets, latest adventures, and—most importantly—hauntingly beautiful renditions of ‘Happy Birthday’.

After Bill retired from BYU he set off to explore the world and all its natural and man-made beauty. He was a skilled photographer and captured many wonders of the world through his travels.

He is survived by his wife Laura Behling Schroeder; he and Loree’s children Ken (Becky) Hamblin, Karen (Caleb) Bell, Alex Hamblin, and their 8 grandchildren; Laura’s children Amy Hansen, Lois (Jacob) Leikam, Thora (Steven) Holbrook, and her 13 grandchildren; as well as his sisters Lisa Robison, Laura Hamblin, and Kim Hamblin-Hart. Bill and Laura were very proud of their combined 21 grandchildren, and loved them very much.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, 21 December at the Edgewood Ward building (5311 North 180 East) in Provo with a viewing from 9:00 to 10:00, and funeral service from 11:00-12:00. The burial will be at 3:00 at the Ephraim Cemetery (620 N Main St.). In lieu of flowers or gifts to charity the family has asked that you contact a family member or loved one and express your feelings. Bill died unexpectedly, and the family believes that the world will be a better place when more words of love are shared more often.