Elmer Hamming was called home to the Lord on Nov. 10, 2015, at the age of 90.

Elmer was born in Lynden to Tom and Grace (Berens) Hamming.

The family moved to Arlington for a short while and then settled in Oak Harbor, where Elmer grew up as one of the 12 Hamming children.

Elmer was a lifelong member of the Oak Harbor Christian Reformed Church and it was there that he met a young woman, Henrietta (Etta) Balda. They were married on Sept. 2, 1952, and celebrated 62 years of marriage prior to Etta’s passing earlier this year on Jan. 14, 2015.

Elmer served in the army during the Korean War and then worked for Western Farmers Co-op delivering fuel oil until he retired at the age of 55.

Elmer was busy in retirement. He enjoyed doing custom field mowing for customers up and down Whidbey Island. Elmer was often seen with his tractor and mower loaded on the trailer behind his latest model of pick-up truck, headed to his job for the day.

Elmer and Etta enjoyed traveling. They took trips to Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand, and cruised through the Panama Canal. They also enjoyed being “snowbirds” and taking their RV to the southern United States in the winter for more than 20 years.

Elmer enjoyed the Hamming family reunions, and was able to drive himself and attend the recent reunion in Winthrop in late July this year.

Elmer is survived by three sisters, Harriet Maginnis, Mary Fuller, Connie (Jim) Matthews; three brothers, Tom Hamming, Gordon Hamming and Moe (Connie) Hamming; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and a large extended family. He was preceded in death by his wife, Etta and three sisters, Wilma Ekkelkamp, Julie Terpstra and Betty Moore; and two brothers, Ken Hamming and Jack Hamming.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 18, at Wallin Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m., Nov. 20, at Fircrest Cemetery, with a memorial service to follow at 11 a.m. at the Christian Reformed Church with Pastor Randy Beumer officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Oak Harbor Christian School Foundation. Please visit Elmer’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com to share memories and condolences. Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home and Cremation, LLC, Oak Harbor.