Calvin L. Hamlin's Obituary
Calvin L. Hamlin
February 7, 1925 – April 28, 2017
Calvin L. Hamlin passed away April 28, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. He was 92. Calvin was born February 7, 1925 in North Bend, Oregon to William and Mary Hamlin. He graduated in 1943 from North Bend High School. He was a true “North Bender”.
As a child, Calvin contracted Rheumatic Fever and Polio. He was left with a damaged heart valve and one leg shorter than the other. Despite these impediments, he talked his way into the US Army having said everyone else was going and he didn’t want to be left behind.
Crossing the English Channel the ship he was on (Empire Javelin) was sunk, presumably torpedoed by a German U-Boat. He served under General George Patton while he was in the 15th Army. He was a longtime member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 12 in North Bend. The I.L.W.U. meant a great deal to him, as he worked alongside his father and two brothers, Vern and Bob, as longshoremen.
Calvin respected Harry Bridges and others who took leadership positions within the union. He was also respecting but wary of the employers and he did have a fondness for Sause Bros. After retirement, he enjoyed walking with his brothers and making walking canes out of myrtlewood and rhododendron. He was never swept away by rank, title, name or wealth. He liked average red wine and scotch bottled in Scotland and was an avid reader of history and newspapers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mary Hamlin, sisters Dorothy George, EvaD Archer, Joyce Hamlin and brothers Lavern and Robert Hamlin and a son-in-law Michael Pageler.
Calvin is survived by his wife of 62 years Norma Hamlin, whom he deeply loved, his son Mark (Doreen) Hamlin, daughter Lisa Pageler and grandchildren Hilary (Scotty) Pike, Markus Hamlin and Haily (Colton) Sargent, his great grandson Hudson Pike and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Memorial Service will be held at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon on Friday, June 2, 2017 at 1:00 PM. Please sign our online guestbook at www.columbiafh.com.
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