Donald Roy Hammersley
Donald Roy Hammersley was born in Oxford Twp. near West Lafayette, Ohio on Feb. 15, 1933. His parents were Donald C. Hammersley and Erma Duff Hammersley. Roy and his siblings, Gene, Ruth, Pearl and Robert spent happy times of their childhood at their Grandpa and Grandma Duff’s lovely hill farm above Birds Run. Their wonderful mother and grandparents taught them many survival skills.
Roy graduated from Newcomerstown High School in 1950. He joined the United States Air Force Jan. 24, 1952 during the Korean War. He was promoted to Staff Sgt., Crew Chief and airplane mechanic. He was the only non-pilot allowed to taxi the jets on base. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. Roy was a patriot and a member of the NRA.
When he returned from the US Air Force, he resumed working at Jones Metal and became the Maintenance Supervisor there for a number of years. He then took employment at Conesville AEP until he retired.
Roy always loved planes and spent much of his boyhood building balsa wood planes. One he had worked very hard on was smashed when his sister Ruth dropped her books on his plane. He forgave her and she always looked out for him. It ended up being a family joke. Roy earned his private pilot’s license, VFR and instrument through instructors Clyde Zimmer and Walt Murphy. He flew his Cessna 172 Sky Hawk for nearly 40 years. His first cross country was going to Reno, Nevada alone, just him and his plane to see his older brother and wife Gene and Barb Hammersley. His wife, Sharon flew with him for years after taking flying lessons. He mentored and promoted small aviation all his adult life. Roy and Sharon were true soul mates both with a sense of adventure. Roy enjoyed boating, gardening, his old truck, riding his Gold Wing, hunting, his dog and spending time on the little hill farm. He was a wonderful father to his surviving sons Mike and Donald Hammersley and a great step-father and grandfather. He loved his family and friends and was always willing to help fix things for them. Roy was like a tall handsome quiet cowboy with old-fashioned principles. He was a man that believed in God. He was loved greatly and will be missed. He is survived by his loving family, wife Sharon, step children, Troy and Jodi Donley, Donnie and Jan Miller, Vasko and Jill Mitzev and nine grandchildren, brother Bob (Cynthia), Barbara Hammersley, and wonderful nieces and nephews and friends. He is also survived by his ex-wife Roberta Hammersley. Friends and family may call at The Miller Funeral Home, 639 Main St., Coshocton, on Saturday, February 14, 2015 from 12 – 2 p.m. where funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. with Pastor David Craft officiating. Interment will follow at Canal Lewisville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Health Services of Coshocton Hospice & Extra Care; Safe Return in care of Sgt. Charlie George, Coshocton City Sheriff’s Department, a program to assist in finding dementia patients that are lost, or the Coshocton Children’s Library. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. An online memorial is located at www.themillerfuneralhome.com
Category: Obituaries
