MACHIAS – Karlton passed away peaceably April 20, 2010, at Marshal Health Care Facility. He was born Jan. 24, 1925. His father was Alpheus Hatch and his mother was Vaughn Hall (Hatch) Wood. By his own choosing, he was raised by his grandparents, Llewellyn and Sarah Hall. He graduated from Machias High School, Class of 1942. He was a veteran of World War II having been drafted into the U.S. Army shortly after graduation. While stationed in Louisiana, he came home on furlough and married his schoolgirl sweetheart, the former, Dorothy Vane, Oct. 3, 1943. Karlton was shipped overseas to Europe where he joined Co. K, 357th Regiment, 90th Infantry Div. of Gen. George Patton’s 3rd Army, as a rifleman. He participated in much combat during the central Europe and the Rhineland campaigns. He was awarded many medals, ribbons with bronze battle stars, and his most prized was the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. After his honorable discharge from the military, he worked as a weave room supervisor at Milliken Textile Mill, Machias, for 30 years. He then worked for nine years in the recreation department at Cutler Navy Base, where he retired in 1990. He was an avid sports fan and played baseball while in high school and later for the Machias town team. Karlton very seldom missed attending local sports events, including cheerleading, in which his granddaughters and great-granddaughters participated. He loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing. He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 11553 and was also a member of American Legion Post 9. Karlton is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of 67 years; a daughter, Pamela and her husband, George Phillips, of Machias; a son, Keith and his wife, Ellen (Kilton) Hatch, of Machias; granddaughters, Melany (Phillips) Maker and Renee Peterson of Portland; grandsons, Miles Phillips of Hancock, Mason Phillips and his friend, Dominique Smith, of Machias, and Robert Hatch and his wife, Christiana, of Hermon; great-granddaughters, Sarah and Hillary Maker, Sadie and Kyra Phillips, all of Machias; great-grandsons, Benjamin and Brandon Maker, Ashton Phillips, all of Machias, and Tyler Hatch of Hermon; half brothers, Llewellyn Wood and wife, Arlene, Clayton Wood and wife, Susie, Lewis Wood, all of Machiasport; and a half sister, Sarah and her husband, Frank Howard, of Princeton. He was predeceased by his parents, grandparents; and a half brother, Arthur Wood Jr. Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 22, at Bragdon-Kelley Funeral Home, Machias. A graveside service will be held 1 p.m. Friday, April 23, at Longfellow Cemetery, Machias. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Ark Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 276, Cherryfield, ME 04622. Condolences may be sent to www.bragdonkelley.com.
KARLTON A. HATCH
