LITCHFIELD – Wayne F. Hatch Sr., 73, a resident of Plains Road, died early Sunday morning, May 18, 2008, surrounded by his loving family at his home, after a long illness. He was born July 4, 1934, in Randolph, the son of John M. and Eleanor (Hinkley) Hatch. Wayne was a 1953 graduate of Gardiner High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1962. On July 2, 1960, he married Mildred “Millie” Rowe of Litchfield. Wayne worked as an insurance agent for John Hancock Insurance Co. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Gardiner, a past deacon of Litchfield Plains Baptist Church and he also served as commander of William R. Bold Post No. 181 Litchfield American Legion for nine years. He was a member of Morning Star Masonic Lodge, Litchfield and served on Sabattus Credit Union nomination committee. Wayne and Millie were a presenting couple for the Baptist Expression of Marriage Encounter in Maine. They were also regional couple for the East Coast and later the executive lay couple for the United States. He and Millie enjoyed traveling and went to Hawaii and Aruba; they also visited many of the major cities in the United States with the Marriage Encounter Group. Wayne was an avid New York Yankee fan and often got razed by his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Millie of Litchfield; four sons, Wayne F. Hatch Jr. and his wife, Joyce, of West Gardiner, Jeffrey Hatch and his life partner, Bob Nazlian, of Augusta, Johnathan Hatch and his wife, Susan, of Litchfield and Thomas Hatch and his fiancee, Carol Ayer, of Biddeford; two daughters, Jo-Ellen Staples of Augusta and Rachel Dunnett and her husband, Robert, of Moncton, New Brunswick; 13 grandchildren and three great-granddaughters. He was predeceased by his parents, six brothers and four sisters. Funeral services with military honors will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at First Baptist Church, 47 Church St., Gardiner. Visiting hours will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, at Bragdon-Finley Funeral Home, 707 Main St., Monmouth. Members of William R. Bold Post No. 181 Litchfield American Legion will meet 6:15 p.m. and members of Morning Star Masonic Lodge of Litchfield will meet 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home. If desired, contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 47 Church St., Gardiner, ME 04345 or Friends of Moncton Hospital, 135 MacBeath Ave., Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada E1C 6Z8. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.finleyfuneralhome.com.
WAYNE F. HATCH SR.
