North Yarmouth -Ronald Arthur Hamlin of North Yarmouth, died peacefully Friday, January 25th at 2:16pm. Ron had chosen to make the most of his last months by refusing treatment for recurring cancer. During that time he held a celebration of life party with hundreds of his friends, traveled to the Maritimes with his daughter and her family, vacationed with his son, went on boat rides and dined out with numerous friends and family. He was feeling so well, that at the beginning of January Ron left for his Florida rental home in Zephyrhills near his sister and brother-in-law, where he enjoyed warm sunny days away from the snow. His son, daughter, wife and stepdaughter all had great visits with Ron while he was there. In his final week, Ron began to feel progressively worse and on the early morning of January 24th he was taken to a local hospice center. On the morning of January 25th friends came to visit and Ron spent time sitting outside in the Florida sun. At 1:00 when his sister and brother-in law stopped in, Ron indicated that he wanted to be in bed. He passed calmly an hour later with his wife, Darla by his side. Ron met death just as he did life: head on.
Ron was born in Milo, Maine, August 16, 1947, the son of Dwight L. and Irma B. Hamlin, and was a graduate of Milo High School where he served as senior class president. He earned an Associate’s degree in Architectural Engineering Technology from Wentworth Institute in Boston, graduating in the class of 1967. While in Boston, Ron met and married his first wife, Roxie M. Black, of Rockland, Maine.
Hamlin then served three years in the United States Army, graduating number one in his Basic Training class at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. A high achiever, Ron was the top graduate in his Topographic Survey class at the US Army Engineer School, and earned the rank of Specialist 5 before being sent to Europe for two years. While stationed in Nurnberg, Germany, Hamlin served one year as Survey Party Chief with the 1st battalion, 22nd Artillery, 4th Armored Division; during his last year he serviced as the Battalion S2 NCO. Hamlin was honored to be one of 25 US soldiers chosen to represent the United States at the 25th anniversary celebration of NATO in a parade and ceremony before the King and Queen in Brussels, Belgium. In later years, as a proud veteran, Hamlin joined the American Legion, serving 5 years as Adjutant and 4 years as Post Commander of Anderson-Mayberry Post #91, Yarmouth, ME. He was a life member of AMVETS Robert W. Boyd Post #2 in Yarmouth, ME where he served two years as Post Adjutant and was also a life member of Vietnam Veterans of America.
In 1973 Ron started his long-standing career at Brown Construction, Inc. in Portland. During his 28 years with Brown, he worked as a draftsman, salesman, estimator, and project manager, before stepping in as President/Treasurer for 11 years and eventually becoming the sole owner of the firm before his retirement in 2001. A strong advocate of the construction industry, Hamlin was an active member of the Downeast Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC); serving both as Chapter Chairman and as a local and national board member over the years. For his contribution to the local construction industry, Hamlin was voted to become the first Life Member of the Downeast Chapter of ABC.
On July 5th, 1992 Ron married high school sweetheart, Darla P. Clukey. Ron was a proponent of small town values, and was fiercely loyal to his community and loved ones. He was active in the town of North Yarmouth, serving as chairman of the town Republican Committee for a number of years, and as a volunteer working on the town’s Events Committee, Fun Day, the Flag Project, and various other town projects. Hamlin also served four years as President of the Milo High School Alumni Association and was a generous supporter of the Boy Scouts of America.
Ron was a devoted family man and he especially loved spending time with his grandchildren. He loved to travel and felt fortunate to have visited 49 states and 29 countries on 5 continents. He was also a skilled woodworker, often making toys and gifts for Christmas, and later in life found satisfaction in reading and writing, with several of his poems having been published. He took pleasure in eating, especially with loved ones, and was particularly pleased when his stepdaughter prepared his favorite meals for him during his final months.
Hamlin was pre-deceased by his parents and a brother, Dwight Richard Hamlin. He is survived by his wife, Darla Perry Hamlin of North Yarmouth; a daughter, Mrs. Heather Jean (Hamlin) Litchfield and husband Dan of Holderness, New Hampshire, and a son, Ronald Andrew Hamlin of Los Angeles, California, both from his previous marriage; a stepdaughter, Ashley E. (Clukey) Durgin and her husband Greg, of Auburn; and a stepson, Kevin M. Clukey and his wife Rochelle of Thornton, Colorado; six grandchildren: Devin Knight and Jeffrey Clukey of Thornton, Colorado, and Caleb, Emma, Micah and Aliza Litchfield of Holderness, New Hampshire; a sister, Nancy H. Ehrlenbach and her husband Dick, of Trenton, Maine; a brother, Morton E. Hamlin and his wife Diane of Brunswick, Maine; sisters-in-law, Sandra B. Hamlin, of Corinth, Maine, and Brenda Schneider of Tampa, FL; and several nieces and nephews.
A “Remembrance of his life” service will be held at the Congregational Church in North Yarmouth on Saturday, February 2nd at 11:00am. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Milo with Military Honors on Saturday May 25 at 11am. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com to view a video collage of Ron’s life and to share your condolences, memories and tributes with his family.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Ronald A. Hamlin Scholarship Trust Fund for the benefit of his Litchfield grandchildren, 63 New Gloucester Rd., North Yarmouth, ME 04097. Much thanks to all who have made his life so memorable.
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