William Alfred Hammond Sr.

FRANKFORD - William Alfred Hammond Sr., age 78, of Frankford, formerly of Blades, passed away on Monday, Aug. 3, 2009, at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford. Mr. Hammond was born on May 18, 1931, in Blades, son of the late Alfred and Sanaria (Neal) Hammond. Bill owned and operated several businesses Keep Kool Air a HVAC company and Bethany Beach's Exxon and Texaco stations. He also taught the electrical trade through the union while receiving his Masters in Education. Mr. Hammond and his wife moved from Blades to Frankford in 1976, where he continued to run his service stations and work as an educator. Mr. Hammond was very active in politics as a young man and served as the mayor of Blades, a member of the Blades Town Council, a member of the school board and was voted Delaware's Young Man of the year in 1963. He was also a lifetime member of both the Blades Volunteer Fire Company and the Millville Volunteer Fire Company. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Joan (Conner) Hammond who passed in June of 2008. He is survived by six children, William A. Hammond Jr. and his wife Carol of Frankford, Nancy Trice and her husband Ron of Seaford, John Hammond and his wife Judi of Lewes, Karen Massey and her husband Dale of Seaford, Kathy Reinhart of Lewes; and a daughter, Lisa Thomas and her husband Rick of Frankford, with whom he lived. Bill is also survived by 12 grandchildren, BJ, Aaron, Shane and Zachary Hammond, RJ, Mike and Christina Trice, Tyler and Mary Massey and Curtis and Melanie Reinhart and Willie Thomas; nine great-grandchildren, Jasmine, Ashton, JT, Brendan, Brooklynn and Jonathan Trice and Sky, Gabi and Kyra Hammond. A funeral service with fireman's honors was held Monday, Aug. 10, at the Ocean View Chapel of Melson Funeral Services, 38040 Muddy Neck Rd., Ocean View. Interment was held at Mariner's Bethel Cemetery in Ocean View. In lieu of flowers the family suggests, memorial contributions in William's name to the Millville Volunteer Fire Company's Building Fund, P.O. Box 64, Millville, DE 19970; or to the Delaware Hospice Center, 100 Patriots Way, Milford, DE 19963.