Col. Charles E. Hammett

(1920-2011)

Colonel Charles Edgar Hammett, USAF (Retired), 90, of Panama City, passed away Monday, August 1, 2011 at his home. He was born September 27, 1920 in Atlanta, Georgia to Manley Hembry Hammett and Margaret Jane Huie. In 1941, he married Mary Carolyn Duckett. After graduation from Georgia Tech, he entered the U.S. Army Air Corps, flying P-51 Mustangs with the 8th Air Force's 364th Fighter Group, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, and Air Medal. Continuing his service with the Air Force, he was a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base in California. He completed his Master's Degree at Purdue University and served at bases throughout the U.S, focusing on research and testing. His final overseas tour was in 1967, during the Vietnam conflict, where he served as Deputy Science Advisor to Gen. William Westmoreland. He retired to Panama City in 1972. His first wife, Carolyn, died in 1984. He married Rena Clemons Wright in 1985. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife, Rena; daughter, Janie Harlow (W.C.) of Panama City, and son, Charles Hammett, Jr (Kathi) of Tampa; granddaughters, Melissa Dye (Brad) of Fayetteville, GA and Laura Beno (Brian) of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; great-grandchildren, Parker and Kyndall Dye and other family members. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Panama City. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens on US 231. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday prior to the service. Contributions may be made in the name of Charles Hammett, to the First Presbyterian Church, 100 East Seventh Street, Panama City, FL 32401 or to Covenant Hospice, 107 W 19th Street, Panama City, FL 32405. The family would like to thank Care South and Covenant Hospice. Those wishing to extend a word of condolences may do so at www.wilsonfuneralhome.net.

Wilson Funeral Home