Phillip Raymond Hammond

Phil, age 83, of Lewisberry, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. He was the son of the late Raymond and Evelyn (Jameson) Hammond, born on September 23, 1941, in New Hampshire.

A 1959 graduate of Milton Hershey School, Phil attended Hershey Junior College before earning a bachelor’s degree from Elizabethtown College. He met his wife, Marian, on a blind date and they married in 1963 and started a family in 1964. 

He began his career working for International Harvester Company as a territory manager before moving on to the IH construction division in Maryland. He later worked for PHH Corporation as a fleet vehicle purchasing manager before relocating to Pennsylvania to manage Chambersburg Farm Service. Phil and Marian moved to Somerset, PA, where he owned and managed Bender Implement Company. After closing Bender, he worked for the Northeast Equipment Dealers Association and then as a territory manager for TISCO Equipment Parts. For the past 17 years, Phil has been an independent management consultant and was working with Hoover Tractor in Mifflinburg up until his death.

Phil was an enthusiastic square foot gardener, installing an irrigation system and erecting a greenhouse in the back yard. Many friends and family benefited from the produce he grew. He was an avid collector of International Harvester memorabilia and active in the IH dealer association. He found peace and relaxation on vacations with family and friends, especially those in the Outer Banks of NC. He also enjoyed traveling back to New Hampshire to visit and treasured the time spent with his family. He loved sudoku, photography, and tinkering. One regret is that he didn’t complete the restoration of his beloved red 1966 Mustang convertible. 

Phil and Marian have been active in a Lutheran Church in every place they lived and are currently active members at Mount Zion Lutheran Church in Lewisberry. Phil has helped people his whole life. When he lived in Baltimore, his church sponsored two Vietnamese refugees, and Phil took the lead in helping them find a place to live and get jobs. After Hurricane Katrina, Phil and Marian traveled with Lend a Hand to Mississippi to help rebuild houses. 

Surviving is his wife of 61 years, Marian (Krahling) Hammond; his son, Phillip R. Hammond, Jr. (Deborah) of Virginia Beach, VA; four grandchildren, Alexander Hammond (Kayla), Lydia Hammond, Jessica Topuz (Ahmet) and Molly Hammond; great-grandchildren, Lyra and Evren; siblings Edward (Sharon), Doug, and Carol Macie (Steve) and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two daughters, Leslie and Christine; and three siblings, Don, Sue, and Paul.

A visitation will take place from 10 AM until his service begins at 11 AM on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Lewisberry.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Phil’s name to his church, Mount Zion Lutheran Church, 863 Lewisberry Road, Lewisberry, PA 17339, or to the Milton Hershey Alumni Association – Harrisburg Chapter, c/o John Hannawalt, 2420 Highland Circle, Harrisburg, PA 17112.