William Holmes Hamrick
April 30, 1916 ~ July 15, 2004
Resided in:
Arden, NC
Arden ~ William H. Hamrick, 88, formerly of Arden, died Thursday, July 15, 2004 at Mission Hospital of respiratory failure.
A native of Asheville, he was the son of the late Michael W. and Verney P. Hamrick. He attended Mars Hill College and served in the US Navy as a Lieutenant Radio Officer aboard the destroyer USS Goff and later in Panama, Canal Zone, with the US Naval Western Sea Frontier.
After the war ended, he was Chief Engineer for WWNC radio. During his career as television broadcast engineer, he oversaw the start-up of new television stations for RCA’s Field Service Group nationwide.
Most notable during his broadcast career, the WSPA-TV Translator Project brought television from Spartanburg into isolated communities of WNC and eastern Tennessee.
A private pilot, he was co-founder of the WNC Aviator’s Recognition Society honoring all US Armed Forces Combat Pilots from WNC.
Mr. Hamrick was a member of the First Baptist Church of Asheville.
He was the husband of the late Deane Hamrick of Asheville and is survived by his son, Mike of Portland, OR; a sister, Evelyn Hamrick of Asheville and two granddaughters, Heather of Bristol, UK and Ashley of Whittier, CA.
A funeral service will be conducted Sunday at 2:00 PM in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian on Long Shoals Road with the Rev. Mary Caldwell and Mrs. Donna Painter officiating.
Pallbearers will be Jerry Marstall, Jim Morehead, Rich Harcke, Jim Martin, Art Heinmiller, Mike Oberman and Jerry Birdwell.
Interment will immediately follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to ABCCM, 207 Cox Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801.
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My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of sorrow.
Dear Mike and Heather:
I’m so sorry to learn about your Dad. I’m not sure if I ever met y’all, but I knew your Dad as far back as I can remember. I also knew your Mom. Your Dad and my Dad, Porter Orr, were close buddies. I know they had several things in common, including Mars Hill and radios. As I think you know, my Dad died exactly 51 weeks before yours did. I think that your Dad was the only one of my Dad’s childhood friends that he kept in touch with until the very end.
On a personal note, I always looked forward to seeing your Dad bacause we always talked about cars. The last time I saw him I think was at Ava Orr Keener’s funeral in Asheville. He was still driving his Porsche, if my memory serves correctly. I was in my Corvette at the time, so we swapped lies about cars for a while.
My sympathies are with you and your family.
Sincerely,
John Orr
Mike, Heather, and Ashley, I send my sympathy for your loss. Uncle Bill was a truly kind man, always friendly and engaging when my sister and I visited.
I am so sorry for your loss. I remember the special relationship you had with your father and will keep you in my prayers as you move thru the days ahead.
Patsie
We are so saddened for your loss.
Bill was a wonderful neighbor and
a true gentleman. We certainly will
miss chatting with him and seeing
him. He was a dear man.
My sympathy to you each. I helped take care of Bill’s wife, Deane, for quite some time and got to know Bill. He was a very kind and compassionate man, not only to his wife, but to us who cared for her. He made us feel special.
To Michael and the family of our dear friend, Mr. Hamrick.
Michael, I must begin with gratitude for your thoughtful call, informing me of your father’s death, and apologies for not receiving the voicemail in time to do more than write this note. Please indulge me a moment’s revelation about your dad’s relationship with my family.
We knew your father as ‘Mr. Bill.’ He and my dad met in pulmonary rehab and became instant friends — sharing a passion for good chat. When my father, George Cogdill, died last November 23rd, your father turned his friendship to me — to us. He sat at West Funeral Home with me, often alone and for hours, beside my father’s casket, and the touch of his love became the balm that began to heal my broken heart. Your father was the very vessel of God that day, pouring out the same kindness he so selflessly showed my dad and mom. He listened, with that ever-calming smile. Now, my heart breaks for you, for you have lost a beautiful man of peace and kindness and abounding love. I’ve said often to my wife, Jill, and my mom — we weep only for ourselves, for our father is very well now. May you take this same comfort, knowing our dads dwell together in a peace vastly beyond our imagining.
When last I spoke to your dad, only a few days ago as he called me with congratulations for some awards I had won, he healed my heart again –ever full of joy, talking about ‘tooling around’ in that car he so loved. The joy he gave that day will stay — a gift to me beyond measure, as long as I draw breath.
Which leaves me but to say thank you for sharing your father with mine, with us.
And if the Almighty will permit this — Godspeed, Mr. Bill. Please take my father’s hand in that gentle, stalwart grasp of your own. I know he rejoices before God that a dear friend has come again in peace.
Two gentle men are home.
Please, I would love to speak with you. (864) 963-2874 or (864) 240-5288. You are invited to my e-mail as well.
With deepest respect, extending you the love of Christ,
Michael Cogdill
Son of George Lloyd Cogdill
Your father’s friend