1932
Billie
2012
Billie Edwina Hammond
December 11, 1932 — August 21, 2012
LCDR Billie Edwina Cordell Hammond, NC, USN (Ret) passed away on August 21, 2012 after a brief illness with cancer. Edwina will be cremated and inurned with her beloved husband, George, who died in 2008 in Las Vegas. Together, they will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA at a later date.
Edwina was raised in Shattuck, OK, graduated from Gage High School and moved to Amarillo for nurses training at St. Anthony’s Hospital where she graduated in 1953. After graduation she entered the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps in 1955 as an Ensign and progressed through the ranks retiring as a Lieutenant Commander in 1976 from the U.S. Marine Corp Base at Quantico, VA.
It was during her twenty year career that she met and married CWO-3 George Hammond, USMC. George had a very prestigious military career, serving for twenty eight years. During that time he was a part of the invasion of Okinawa, served in the Korean War and two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was awarded numerous medals for his courageous service including the Purple Heart with 4 Stars, Combat Action Ribbon with Palms, Presidential Unit Citation with 2 Stars, Navy Unit Commendation Medal with Combat “V”, and Service Medals for WWII, Korea and Vietnam.
Edwina traveled extensively throughout the world, serving tours of duty in Sasebo, Japan, Subic Bay in the Philippines as well as at Naval Hospitals from California to New York. She too was awarded medals for her outstanding service to our country including the National Defense Service Medal.
After retirement, the couple lived in several places in the U.S. including Virginia, Florida, Tennessee and Nevada. Edwina recently moved back to Amarillo from Las Vegas after the loss of her husband. In Amarillo she became very active in veterans affairs, including volunteering with America Supports You Texas and was able to go on the Honor Flight to Washington, DC. Among her many other interests, Edwina always enjoyed flowers and became quite an expert in Japanese flower arranging. She recently returned from a special trip to Japan to study the art of Ikebana under the Head Master.
Edwina was preceded in death by her husband and a brother, Roy Cordell.
She is survived by her very loving and devoted niece, Susie Akers and husband Stephen Rohde of Amarillo; two sisters, Mary Cowden and husband Dr. David Cowden of Kingsport, TN and Doris Akers and husband Robert of Follett, TX; two brothers, Bob Cordell and wife Betsy of Vienna, WV and Rex Cordell and wife Janet of Enid, OK; as well as numerous other loving and caring family members and friends.
The family suggests that memorials be made to America Supports You Texas, C/O Jack Barnes, P.O. Box 3218 Amarillo, TX 79116.
Edwina was raised in Shattuck, OK, graduated from Gage High School and moved to Amarillo for nurses training at St. Anthony’s Hospital where she graduated in 1953. After graduation she entered the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps in 1955 as an Ensign and progressed through the ranks retiring as a Lieutenant Commander in 1976 from the U.S. Marine Corp Base at Quantico, VA.
It was during her twenty year career that she met and married CWO-3 George Hammond, USMC. George had a very prestigious military career, serving for twenty eight years. During that time he was a part of the invasion of Okinawa, served in the Korean War and two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was awarded numerous medals for his courageous service including the Purple Heart with 4 Stars, Combat Action Ribbon with Palms, Presidential Unit Citation with 2 Stars, Navy Unit Commendation Medal with Combat “V”, and Service Medals for WWII, Korea and Vietnam.
Edwina traveled extensively throughout the world, serving tours of duty in Sasebo, Japan, Subic Bay in the Philippines as well as at Naval Hospitals from California to New York. She too was awarded medals for her outstanding service to our country including the National Defense Service Medal.
After retirement, the couple lived in several places in the U.S. including Virginia, Florida, Tennessee and Nevada. Edwina recently moved back to Amarillo from Las Vegas after the loss of her husband. In Amarillo she became very active in veterans affairs, including volunteering with America Supports You Texas and was able to go on the Honor Flight to Washington, DC. Among her many other interests, Edwina always enjoyed flowers and became quite an expert in Japanese flower arranging. She recently returned from a special trip to Japan to study the art of Ikebana under the Head Master.
Edwina was preceded in death by her husband and a brother, Roy Cordell.
She is survived by her very loving and devoted niece, Susie Akers and husband Stephen Rohde of Amarillo; two sisters, Mary Cowden and husband Dr. David Cowden of Kingsport, TN and Doris Akers and husband Robert of Follett, TX; two brothers, Bob Cordell and wife Betsy of Vienna, WV and Rex Cordell and wife Janet of Enid, OK; as well as numerous other loving and caring family members and friends.
The family suggests that memorials be made to America Supports You Texas, C/O Jack Barnes, P.O. Box 3218 Amarillo, TX 79116.
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