03/06/2026
Rildia Earlene Hamilton entered this world October 6, 1935 in Cushing, Oklahoma as the daughter of Earl and Rildia "Judy" Wright Holland. She grew up with her parents travelling back and forth on Route 66 between Fresno, California and Cushing, Oklahoma and beyond. As a child, she enjoyed special times with her Holland and Wright cousins, and especially with her Grandmother Dora Belle Holland nee Hoskins. Her youth in the depression and through World War II instilled in her thriftiness, determination and an indomitable spirit.
She attended high schools in California and Cushing, Oklahoma as well as Central High School in Tulsa before marrying Robert Charles Sitton on October 19, 1953 in Fresno, California. She soon entered a never-ending stage of her life, motherhood, a duty she dedicated the rest of her life to fulfilling. On February 15, 1963, Rildia married James Kenneth Hamilton in Huntsville, Arkansas and soon after moved to Berryhill, Oklahoma where she remained in residence for over 50 years.
Her adult life was spent raising her children and running her household. Rildia enjoyed spending time with her mother and brother and cousins, as well as crafting, gardening, and collectibles. She was active in the Tulsa Genealogical Society and clerked for Weight Watchers and Payless Shoes in West Tulsa.
In her golden years, she continued to love and guide her children, but she also became an inspiration to her grandchildren with her love and kindness and advice and wisdom. She remained actively engaged in her greatest passion, genealogy, and became a family authority on family history, not only for her direct ancestry but many related families as well. She was respected by other researchers from across the country and developed strong friendships with many distant, distant cousins.
In her final years, Rildia faced the challenges of age and illness with her amazing tenacity and feisty attitude, overcoming the challenges of a changing world, she adopted new technology and continued to contribute to the well-being of her family, friends and community in a relevant and significant way. She enjoyed a sound and independent mind, expressed herself freely, and continued to write genealogical family histories.
Rildia died February 24, 2026 at Porta Caeli House in Tulsa, Oklahoma surrounded in the love of her children and grandchildren.
Rildia is preceded in death by her father and mother; her brother, Art Holland; sister, Anngel Earl Coyner; her husbands; her sons Robert Sitton and Gerald Sitton; her daughters Tina Beaumont and Cynthia Kirk; and her grandson Robert Joseph Beaumont.
She is survived by daughters Rildia Cleary, of Langely, Oklahoma and husband Bill Cleary, and Kimalee Lawson of Tulsa; sons Eldon Hamilton and wife Kim Hamilton, and Denzil Hamilton, both of Tulsa. Rildia had 15 grandchildren: Danny Beaumont of Dallas, Texas, Kenny Beaumont of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Tina Beaumont of Cleveland, Oklahoma, Shannon Beaumont of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, Stacy Cleary of Tulsa, Ryan Cleary of Tulsa, Joshua Burgess of Glenpool, Oklahoma, Billy Cleary of Tokyo, Japan, Jeremiah Hamilton of Tulsa, Cody Hamilton of Tulsa, Brandon Rudluff of Tulsa, Justin Rudluff of Tulsa, John Lawson of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Kristy Lawson of Tulsa, Amy Fairchild of Neenah, Wisconsin, Nitisha Kirk of Tulsa, Samantha Kirk of Tulsa, and Faye Kirk of Chicago, Illinois. She is survived by 22 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
Rildia requested a graveside service at Davenport Cemetery in Davenport, Oklahoma to be buried near her grandmother, father and mother, brother, husbands, children and grandchild. The internment will be at 1 p.m. on March 13, 2026. She will lay in peace at Mark Griffith Funeral Home on March 12, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The family will greet guests from 5 to 7 p.m.
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