BIG SPRING, Texas, and BREWER - Master Sgt. Charles E. Hamm, retired, 79, died peacefully Nov. 1, 2011, after a brief illness at home in Big Spring, Texas, with his family by his side. He was born Jan. 5, 1932, in Bangor, the second son of Elbridge Marston Hamm and Anna M. (Somers). Charlie grew up on Parker Street, Brewer, and was a 1950 graduate of Brewer High School. After graduation he was sent to Korea, as he was a member of Maine National Guard since age 17. Charlie loved all things mechanical and chose to make the U.S. Air Force his career, serving for 26 years. He was a highly decorated veteran of the Korean War and Vietnam War. Much of his youth was spent delivering a paper route for the Bangor Daily News and working nights at Old Park Theatre, Bangor. Charlie is survived by his wife of 41 years, LaWanda Lewis; two sons, Charles Edward "Butch" Hamm Jr. and his wife, Janet, of Freemont, Ind., and Steven Phillip Hamm and his wife, Kimberly, of Big Spring, Texas; daughter, Karen Ann Griffith and her husband, Dale, of Willow Park, Texas; one special stepdaughter, Debbie Perkins and her husband, Dwight, of Big Spring, Texas; two brothers and two sisters, Eugene Harold Hamm and his wife, Pamela (Spellman), of Bangor, Edward Somers Hamm and his wife, Bonnie Ann (Redman), of Bangor, Evelyn Ann Neff of Brewer, and Kathleen Charlotte Wade and her husband, George, of Newport News, Va.; a special sister-in-law, DeeDee, wife of Elbridge M. Hamm Jr., of Leesburg, Fla.; 16 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren. Charlie was predeceased by his mom and dad; and his older brother, Elbridge "Joe" Marston Hamm Jr. Charlie was laid to rest with full military honors performed by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard at Trinity Memorial Park, Big Spring, Texas.