Charles Franklin Hammer, age 82, died peacefully in Coupeville, Washington on Tuesday February 7, 2023 of natural causes.
He was born in Brookings, South Dakota on September 28, 1940 and was raised on a lake in Hackensack, Minnesota, where his family and friends endearingly called him “Babe.” It was at a small rural schoolhouse that he met his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Ruth Bakeberg. They married May 7, 1960.
Charles enlisted in the United States Navy, and enjoyed a successful career, achieving the rank of CWO4. His calm and cheerful demeanor as an air traffic controller guided many pilots to a safe landing. He traveled the world with his wife and two sons, Michael, and Matthew, and was stationed in Maine, Florida, Alaska, Washington, Guam, Nevada, California, and Antartica. Chuck fondly recalled his time at McMurdo Station Antartica as the Williams Field Air Traffic Control Officer.
His Naval Decorations Include:
Navy Achievement Medal w/gold star
Good Conduct 4 bronze stars
National Defense Service Medal
Antartica Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Expert Rifle
Expert Pistol
Charles retired from the U.S. Navy in 1987 and called the Town of Coupeville, WA home. In his retirement, he worked as a bus driver for Island Transit, where he greeted his morning riders with a smile and friendly conversation. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed sailing, kayaking, hunting, walking the beaches of Whidbey Island to collect agates with his beloved Ruth, and watching the Hummingbirds flit through his yard.
Charles loved to tell funny stories at family gatherings, and is survived by his wife, Ruth; son Michael, Jacquelyn, and grandson Jonah; son Matthew and granddaughters Maren & Maile; Sister-in-law Joan LaCross; Siblings Rick Steece, Debbie Steece, Mike Steece, Bob Meyers, and many wonderful neighbors and friends. He is preceded in death by brother Ron Hammer.
A memorial with Military Honors will be held Saturday July 22, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Sunnyside Cemetery; Navy Chaplain David Lura to preside.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Whidbey Community Foundation “In Memory of Chuck Hammer”
Whidbey Community Foundation
P.O. Box 1135, Coupeville, WA 98239
https://whidbey.fcsuite.com/erp/donate
