Paul Frank Hammer

HAMMER, Paul Frank, 96, died at home in Odessa, FL, on Sunday, April 14, 2013. Raised on a farm in Mansfield, Ohio as the second of five children. He was employed in several trades at Westinghouse and other employers in Mansfield, and attended Ashland University. Enlisting in the Army during WWII, he rose to First Sergeant and served honorably throughout the western Pacific. Returning to Mansfield after the war, he wed Doris Fraley and started their family. They moved to Tampa, Florida a short time later, where he spent a career with Purolator Security/Loomis Armored as Operations Manager. In retirement he became an avid organic gardener, tending what grew to be one-acre vegetable and fruit garden for the remainder of his life. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, often on chairs under the canopy of fruit trees in his garden, engaging in an amazing breadth of conversations on gardening, geography, history, and of course, politics. Always an avid outdoorsman, even in his mid-nineties he would go swimming, canoeing, even kayaking with family and friends. He was a grateful participant on an Honor Flight for World War II Vets to Washington D.C., and attended a Vets Against War rally. Preceded in death by his wife, Doris, and three brothers. He is survived by his four daughters, Paula (Chip) Hall, Belinda (Jeff) Kramer, Marlene (Kerry) Reed, Yvonne (Joe) Casella; his sister, Marilyn Stimens; nine grandchildren, Michelle Hall Sussman, Marla Kramer, Brennan Hall, Nolan Hall, Casey Casella, Jay Casella, Dana Casella, Christian Reed and Autumn Reed; five great grandchildren, Kaylan Figueroa, Tyler Sussman, Anna Sussman, Addison Hall and Lily Hall. Dad lived a simple and happy life. Material things were of no importance to him. He rose early and happy each morning of his life, gardening all day enjoying the small things life had to offer. His family will have a celebration of his life at a future date.