Ervin Josiah Hamme, 88 of Pinehurst, passed away on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the North Carolina State Veterans Home in Fayetteville. He was born July 27, 1929, in York County, Pennsylvania, the son of the late Josiah Jacob and Sarah Smith Hamme.

In 1952, Ervin graduated from the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music (now Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education.  It was here that he met his loving wife of 65 years, Eleanor Parsons Hamme, and they were married shortly after his graduation.  Having been deferred for education, he was immediately drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served two years in Korea during the war as a Supply Sergeant in the 439th Engineer Construction Battalion.

After being discharged from the Army and teaching high school band for one year in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Ervin earned a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Florida State University in 1956.  With the exception of three years spent teaching at the high school level—two years in Crestview, Florida and one year in Gaffney, South Carolina, he taught Middle School Band in Kathleen, Florida, until he retired in 1983.  One of the highlights of Ervin’s career was the honor of serving first as President-Elect and then as President of the Florida Bandmasters Association during the 1971-1973 school years.

When he retired from the Florida School System in 1983, he and his wife moved to Staunton, Virginia, where he taught Middle School Band for another eleven years in Augusta County.

Ervin was always active in his church, serving as Elder, singing in the choir, playing handbells and serving on various committees. For several years he also volunteered with Meals on Wheels and the Blue Ridge Food Bank in the Staunton area.  He enjoyed his wood-working shop, and he and Eleanor together created crafts and entered many craft shows around the state for several years. In 2013, he and Eleanor moved from Virginia to Pinehurst where he became a member of Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen. 

Ervin was preceded in death by two brothers, Lawrence and Harold Hamme, and one sister, Miriam Houser.  In addition to his wife, Ervin is survived by his son, Gary Hamme and wife, Lisa, of Leonia, New Jersey, his daughter, Denise Wallace of Pinehurst, and three grandchildren- Christy Wallace Chapman and husband Phillip of Charlotte, NC and Alex and Dylan Hamme of Leonia, NJ; Ervin is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. 

A celebration of life service will be held 3PM, Sunday, May 27th 2018 at the Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the NC State Veterans home in Fayetteville, NC.  

Online condolences can be made to www.bolesfuneralhome.com

Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines is serving the family.

Mr. Hamme’s family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers at Sandhills Sentinel.

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