Obituary of Chum Hammond

Telford Greening “Chum” Hammond, passed away at Wildwood Care Centre on November 2, 2018 at the age of 93.Beloved husband of Editha (Hellyer), 14 days from their 72nd wedding anniversary. Father of Peter and Mary, Jo Ann and Gary, Charlie and Audrey, and Richard and Sandra. Grandfather of Daniel (Lorie), John (Kathy), Patrick (Heather), Michael, Chad, Dean, Jane Ann (Luke), Derek (Katie), Ryan (Jill), Warren (Kristen), Jennifer (Tyler). Great-grandfather of Brent, Baron, Bryan, Elizabeth, William, Amelia, William, Cohen, James, Parker, Claire, Edward. Brother of Lillian Bennett and brother-in-law of Doreen Hellyer. Predeceased by his brother David (Marion), brothers and sisters-in-law Shirley (John Carlisle), Mildred (Ted Woodley), Walter Hellyer, and Norman Bennett. Chum was the son of Theodora (Scott) and Charlie Hammond.Chum was a farm boy born during the Depression in Waterford, Ontario. During the Second World War he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and trained as a pilot. He flew anything that they would let him. The planes he flew included: Canso (float planes to guard the convoys), Harvard (which he flew in to his 80s), Hurricane, and the Tiger Moth. Near the end of the war he switched from the Royal Canadian Air Force to the Royal British Navy to fly Swordfish torpedo planes off their aircraft carriers. He loved the freedom and the comradery of the air.After the war he married his high school sweetheart and moved his young family to St. Marys. The town welcomed him, and he was proud to live and raise his family here.He operated several businesses in town. He established TG Hammond Limited originally as a coal yard. His company soon developed into a road and sewer contracting company, and eventually moved into fuel distribution and became locally famous for Charlie’s Gas Bar on highway 7, where his father, his children, and his grandchildren all had the pleasure of greeting and serving customers.He was proud to serve locally as both a town councillor and a hospital board member, and he was actively involved in many local organizations including the Lions Club, the Golf and Curling Club, the Noon Hour Club, the Flying Club of Stratford, and First Baptist Church of St. Marys.He had several hobbies including travel, golf, flying, and playing bridge with his friends. He always enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren and passed on these hobbies to them. He kept his family and friends entertained with his many varied and vivid stories, and they will be fondly remembered and repeated by those who knew and loved him.Visitation will be at the Andrew L. Hodges Funeral Home, 47 Wellington St. S., St. Marys (519-284-2820), on Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 2–4 & 7–9 p.m. The Funeral Service will be conducted at ST. MARYS UNITED CHURCH, 85 Church St. S., St. Marys, on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2018, at 11 a.m. with Dr. Mark McKim officiating. Interment in St. Marys Cemetery.Memorial donations may be made to the St. Marys Memorial Hospital Foundation, First Baptist Church, or the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.