ROCKLAND — Ernest “Ernie” H. Hammond, 87, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, March 23, 2019.

Born in Livermore, June 19, 1931 he was the son of Errold H. and Virginia E. Tompkins Hammond.

Ernest attended schools in Livermore and New Hampshire, at which point he earned his high school diploma. He then enlisted in the US Navy where he nobly served his country from 1948-1951 during the Korean War.

After Ernest departed from the military he then worked on the railroads as a salesman for a Portland Industrial firm. Then, in 1961 he moved to Rockland, where he began his career as Chief Engineer for the radio station WRKD, and in the construction and operation of WMCM. He was familiar to many for his very distinctive “on air radio voice”.

In 1992 he went to work for SAD 50 as custodian/bus driver “semi-retiring” to driving bus only, a position he held until 2016.

Ernest accepted the Lord as his Savior in 1972 and became a very active member of The First Baptist Church of Rockland, for many years serving as moderator and as trustee. His very favorite hymn while in attendance at church was In the Garden.

Ernest also served on the Rockland City Council for seven years in the 1960s and early 70s, two of those years as chairman.

Ernie survived by his beloved wife Kim, a daughter Sandra Donahue and her husband David of Shrewsbury, MA.; four grandchildren, Dr. Jennifer Sargent of Shrewsbury, MA., Casandra Funk, Christopher Funk both of Worcester, MA., Brian Funk of Richmond, VA; five great grandchildren, Zofia and Elise Sargent, Madeline Carper, Conner Funk and Rose Funk; a half-sister Norma Ratto of Boise, ID; two nieces, Julie McArthur and her husband Brian of Bolivia, Jennifer Lambertson and her husband Kevin of South Portland; a nephew, Cameron T. Henry of Greenwich, CT, as well as a grandniece Evelyn Lambertson.

Other than his parents Ernest was predeceased by a wife Rita of 47 years in 2000; two siblings, a brother Donald in 1959, and his sister Kathleen in 2011.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit Wednesday, March 27, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Burpee, Carpenter and Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, where a funeral service will be held Thursday, March 28, at 2 p.m. Pastor P. Nathan Gross will officiate.

Spring interment will be in Achorn Cemetery, Rockland.

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to the Child Evangelism Fellowship of Maine, Southern Maine Chapter, 879 Sawyer St., South Portland, Maine 04106.

To share a memory or story with Ernest’s family, visit their online Book of Memories at www.bchfh.com.