William ‘Bill’ Gorden Hammond
William “Bill” Gorden Hammond, 93, of Cranston, RI, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Born in Shepherdstown, West Virginia on January 15, 1932, he was the son of Thomas W. and Ethel (McKee) Hammond.
Bill was a member of the Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department in the 1950s, and held the elected position of Secretary as well as being an Engineer and Assistant Fire Chief.
When he was a child, his family moved to Traveler’s Rest in Kearneysville, WV, which was the 18th century home of Major General Horatio Gates, an American patriot and Revolutionary War hero. He was grateful to grow up around such historical surroundings.
He moved to Arlington, VA in the 1960s and had a 35-year career with Giant Food Stores, operating mainly out of their McLean, Virginia location.
Bill was an award-winning ballroom dancer who per-formed a mean foxtrot, an amateur photographer who built his own darkroom and studio where he took portrait photos for family and friends, and a woodworker who learned the skill from his father who was a master carpenter. Bill was also a wonderful cook and baker, and never met a dessert he didn’t like. He was well known for his never-ending support of Shepherd University Football, proudly sporting a Shepherd hat and matching jacket year-round. Bill was a kind, caring, generous person, and a very loving and devoted father.
Bill was preceded in death by his sister Patricia Fincham of Shepherdstown, and his former wife, Carolyn S. Hawk. He is survived by his daughter, Jeanine Hammond and her partner James Kelly of Cranston, RI.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Brown Funeral Home with Pastor Tim Guerino officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior.
Interment will be he in Elmwood Cemetery in Shepherdstown, WV
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department, 8052 Martinsburg Pike, Shepherdstown WV 25443.
Online condolences may be offered at www.Brown FuneralHomesWV.com.