It is with a heavy heart but also a sense of celebration knowing that he has gone home to his Lord that the family of Orville Eugene Hammond of Bridgeville, announces the peaceful passing after a long and valiant fight against Parkinson’s disease on Wednesday evening, Jan. 13, 2021.
Orville, better known as Ollie to friends and family, began life on May 1, 1939, the son of J. Clifton Hammond and Gladys Lloyd Hammond in the small town of Todd’s Church, just outside of Greenwood. After graduating from Greenwood High School (class of 1957), Orville began his career at International Latex Corp as a research technician. While working, he studied chemistry at Wesley College and Delaware State University. Eventually he landed at O. A. Newton of Bridgeville. It was there that he spent the majority of his career eventually retiring in 2013 with the title of Senior Vice President of the Material Control Systems Group.
In addition to his career, Orville was honored to serve in the Delaware National Guard where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant after attending Officer Candidate School and eventually retired as a First Lieutenant. Furthermore, Orville was a dedicated and devoted member of Chaplain’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Bridgeville where he served on the Board of Trustees in addition to many additional committees.
Perhaps Orville, though, enjoyed nothing more than serving as Pop Pop. He and Mary Lou’s favorite pastime was spoiling their grandchildren, looking forward to their individual summer “vacations” at Mom Mom and Pop Pop’s where he would take each of his four grandchildren fishing every single summer amongst other activities.
After retirement, Orville rediscovered an earlier love and became an avid painter, especially watercolors, and could be found happily painting on the sunporch at any given time, eventually being awarded a blue ribbon at the Delaware State Fair for his painting of a heron.
Orville was preceded in death by his only son Stephen Eugene Hammond; a brother, Craig Hammond; mother, Gladys Lloyd Hammond, and father John Clifton Hammond. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years Mary Louise (Willey) Hammond; brother, Bruce Hammond; daughter-in-law, Amy Cornell Hammond (Stephen’s wife); and four dearly-loved and devoted grandchildren: Connor Willey Hammond (27), Webb Cornell Hammond (27), Allie Osborne Hammond (25), and Stephen Eugene (True) Hammond, Jr. (21). In addition he is remembered fondly by various nieces, nephews and friends.
The family would like to extend a sincere message of gratitude to the entire staff of Seaford Genesis in Seaford for their unwavering commitment to Orville‘s (Ollie’s) care with individual names too numerous to list. The folks at Genesis became extensions of our family, especially during the COVID pandemic, each and every one a hero in our eyes.
A funeral service was held on Monday, Jan. 18 at the Framptom Funeral Home – Fleischauer Chapel in Greenwood. Interment followed a walk through visitation at St. Johnstown Cemetery in Greenwood.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to Chaplains Chapel United Methodist Church, c/o Rosalie Hastings, 18875 Atlanta Road, Bridgeville, DE 19933 or to the Parkinsons Education and Support Group of Sussex County, Post Office Box 56, Lewes, DE 19958.
Share memories with the family at www.framptom.com.