Raymond F. Hamel, Sr.

Retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Raymond F. Hamel passed away on Saturday, December 19, 2020 in Valdosta, GA. He was born in Laconia, New Hampshire on April 7, 1932 to Rodolphe Hamel and Irene Bilodeau Hamel. He graduated from a multilingual elementary school in 1946, Laconia High School in 1950, and the University of New Hampshire in 1954.
He received an MBA from Ohio State University in 1976.
He served in the Air Force for a 24-year career as a pilot of bomber and cargo aircraft. His final aircraft was the C-130 gunship, following his Vietnam tour where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroic action. He was then assigned to Valdosta to start an AFROTC program at then Valdosta State College. Today this program still stands as one of the best in the country. A couple Generals and several Colonels proudly claim Valdosta as their Alma Mater. Hamel always claimed that his time at VSC was the highlight of his years in the Air Force. After his retirement from the Air Force in 1979, he spent the next 15 years as the Executive Director of the Valdosta United Way.
He was preceded in death by his wife Anita of 57 years and their twin girl and boy, his second wife Sue of 8 years, as well as his brother, Donald, and his wife, Doris.
Survivors are a brother, Jerry and his wife JoAnn; his four children, Raymond Hamel Jr. of Pensacola, Robert A. Hamel of Iowa City, Helene I. Hamel of San Antonio, and Roger D. Hamel of San Antonio; and 12 surviving grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
A public memorial service will be held at St. John Catholic Church on Thursday August 12, 2021 at eleven A.M. In lieu of flowers please consider gifts to St. John Catholic Church and First Christian Church of Valdosta. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.