SEAFORD - Robert Francis Hammond, age 72, of Seaford, departed this life on Monday, April 9, 2012. Robert was born on June 8, 1939, in Queen Anne, Md., to the late Arthur John and Jennie E. Hammond. At the age of eight, Robert was blessed and raised by two loving parents, Mr. Thomas "Ben" and Estelle Finney of Seaford. Robert was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew, and friend. He received his early education at Frederick Douglas School, Seaford, and William C. Jason High School, Georgetown. In 1956, he joined the United States Army, where he received numerous medals, awards, and citations. He retired a Sergeant First Class in 1982. After retirement, he was employed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a security officer for several years. After the death of his mother, Robert relocated to Seaford, and on June 18, 1994, he married his sweetheart, Gwendolyn Shirley Cannon. Robert was a faithful member of Mt. Calvary A.M.E. Church, Seaford, where he served on the Men's Choir and Trustee. He was an excellent carpenter; enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family. In addition to his parents, Robert was preceded in death by his siblings, Richard Hammond, George Hammond, Evelyn Flowers, Katherine Hickman, and Viola Welch. He leaves to mourn, his dedicated and loving wife, Gwendolyn S. Hammond; four daughters, Estelle Whiting, Wilmington, Robin Hayes (Daryl), Seaford, Tia Hammond, Asbury Park, N.J., Valerie Manokey (Lawrence), Seaford; and one son, Desmond Downing (Pam), Delmar; one brother, Howard Hammond (Christine), Camden; three sisters-in-law, Esther Pinder and Lucretia Richards of Seaford, and Betty Wilson (Joseph) of Cambridge, Md.; a mother-in-law, Marvell Walker, Dover; special nephews, Michael Richard and Lycurgus Bacon, Seaford; a special cousin, Shirley Allen; a special friend, Carlton Cannon; seven grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. Services will be 1 p.m., Saturday, April 21, 2012, at Mt. Calvary AME Church 25206 School Rd., Seaford, with a viewing Friday evening 6 to 8 p.m. at the church. Interment will be 1 p.m., Monday, April 23, at Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Millsboro. Condolences sent to www.henryfuneralhomepa.com.