Obituary of Henry K Hammond

Henry King Hammond, 87, of Apalachin, the son of Myra E. and Charles N. Hammond, passed away on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. He is survived by his wife Ernestine Leah Hammond; his daughter Tiffany Hammond; his sisters Jean Hammond, Ellen Allen, and Marcia James; and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. He was predeceased by his parents Myra and Charles Hammond and siblings Charles Hammond, Myra Thomas, Elizabeth Cameron, Lloyd Hammond, and Paul Hammond. Henry was born in Athens, Pennsylvania, in January 1936 where he attended Athens schools and graduated in the class of 1953. He was a member of the Athens Presbyterian Church (now the Valley United Presbyterian Church). Henry attended Temple University and served in the United States Army where he first jumped out of a perfectly good airplane and learned to love the thrill of skydiving. Along the way, he met, fell in love with, and married Ernestine Leah Hammond. Married in July 1965, they spent more than 57 happy years together. Henry began working at IBM Owego in 1953 and stayed with the company for 43 years, ultimately retiring from Lockheed Martin in 2000. Henry enjoyed being active in his Southern Tier community – getting to know people and helping where he could. He was a long-time member of Union Presbyterian Church in Endicott where he served multiple terms as a deacon and an elder. Henry was a member of the Apalachin Lions Club for 55 years where he built many lifelong friendships. He served on the board of the Waterman Conservation Center where he was able to share his love of nature with others in the area. He was also a member of the Owego Elks Club, the Apalachin Jaycees, and volunteered with other community groups. Throughout his life, Henry enjoyed both playing and watching sports – track, basketball, football, and martial arts. He also supported local arts and regularly attended performances of the Binghamton Philharmonic, Tri-Cities Opera, and local jazz musicians. He had a zest for life and sought out people and experiences that enriched him and the community. Henry loved all aspects of this life – helping others, laughing with his wife, family, and friends, and seeking out new experiences. Henry and his presence in our lives will be missed. Calling hours are 4-7pm on Monday, April 10th at Coleman & Daniels Funeral Home in Endicott. Funeral services are at 10am on Tuesday, April 11th at Union Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Main Street, Endicott.