Major John Hammond
September 6, 1926 – May 22, 2020
John Alfred Hammond, loving husband, father and PawPaw passed away peacefully and stepped into eternity with his Savior, Jesus Christ on May 22, 2020. He was born to William M Hammond and Lora Dean Anderson Hammond on Sept. 6, 1926 on a farm in Tangipahoa Parish, near Ponchatoula, LA. After his mother's death he was raised by his father in Phoenix, AZ. John was a veteran of World War II and Korea. He joined the Coast Guard in 1942 and served aboard LST-790 participating in several invasions including Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After World War II he attended Henderson State Teachers' College, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas where he found the two loves of his life; Dorothy Rose Hampton and flying. He loved flying so much that he joined the U.S. Air Force in 1948 going through Aviation Cadet class 49-B flying T-6 and B-25 training planes. After completing pilot training, he and Dorothy married on June 21,1949. The couple moved to the first of many military locations. He began his career flying transport planes in California. In the Korean theatre, John was part of the psychological warfare program, flying unarmed missions deep behind enemy lines and sometimes rescuing imbedded spies. In all John flew 75 missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters and many other service medals including the Korean Service and U.N. Medals. He left active duty in 1953, but continued to serve in the active reserve both in Arkansas and Oklahoma where he flew the C-123 Assault Transport. He retired as a Major at age 60. He spent over 45 years in the insurance industry as an adjuster, in management and as an expert witness. The couple relocated several times while raising their family. In 1972, they moved to Edmond, OK. John was a long- time member of the First Christian Church of Edmond where he was an Elder Emeritus. He and Dorothy (Dot) spent many years serving on the staff of Breakfast on Boulevard with the church and he volunteered at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. He loved traveling, painting and spending time with family and friends. John was preceded in death by his father and mother, sisters Janet Seaver and Mary Minta. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Dorothy Hammond, sister Cheryl Macdonald of Va., children Mark Hammond (Rose), Rebecca Ferguson (Rod) and grandchildren Kimberly Weaver (Mitch), Christian Hammond (Whitney), Matthew Ferguson (Tiffany), Sean Ferguson (Melissa), Aubrey Gary (Taylor), Sydney Hammond as well as great grandchildren Tyler Weaver (Kelli), Joel Weaver, Landyn Ferguson, Daniel Ferguson, Oliver Gary and Alexis and Ava Hammond and four great-great grandchildren. Viewing will be at Matthews Funeral Home on Wednesday June 10, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM with family present. There will be a private graveside service at Memorial Park Cemetery with a memorial service to be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the First Christian Church of Edmond building fund and/or their Breakfast on Boulevard program.