IRVINGTON—William Gerald “Jerry” Hamm, 94, of Irvington died April 28, 2026.
Jerry attended McGuffey School, Lane High School and University of Virginia. He graduated UVA Class of 1954 with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Option. He was a member of Theta Tau (Engineering fraternity), Delta Upsilon fraternity and Phi Eta Sigma (freshman honor society).
Jerry was pre-deceased by his wife, Maria Laqueur; his parents, Strother Francis Hamm and Ruby Frances Barksdale Hamm; and by all of his siblings ,Dorothy Barksdale Hamm, Martha Frances Hamm, George Strother Hamm, James Douglas Hamm, and most recently his sister, Ruby Hamm of Charlottesville, and his brother, Charles Hamm of White River Junction, Vt.
He is survived by his four sons from his first marriage and their spouses, as well as six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, step-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Jerry had a lifelong interest in music, which began in grade school where he played the trumpet. In high school, he changed to the French horn, which he loved and it remained his favorite instrument all of his life. In high school, he played in the concert and marching bands, in a woodwind quintet, and was a member of the Virginia All-State Band.
After graduation from the University of Virginia, he married Nancy Bain Adkins of Richmond, and they moved to Santa Monica, Calif., where he worked as an engineer for the Douglas Aircraft Company, initially on the DC-6B, DC-7, DC-7C, and A-3D aircraft programs, and several guided missile programs. From 1957 to 1961 he was involved in the transition of the DC-8 program from the Santa Monica design facility to the Long Beach production facility and in the construction of the first DC-8 airframes. He was proud to observe the highly successful first flight of the DC-8 and enjoyed flying on DC-8s many times thereafter.
In 1961, Jerry left Douglas Aircraft in order to move back to his favorite state, Virginia. He worked for the Atlantic Research Corporation, initially as a project engineer on solid-propellant rocket motor programs and was the co-holder of a patent concerning a unique rocket motor design. Over the years he advanced to director of the production division, corporate executive vice president and chief operating officer, and member of the board of directors. After another company acquired Atlantic Research, he remained for two years as group president of the Professional Services Group until his retirement in 1989. His first marriage ended in divorce. He and Maria Laqueur married in 1983.
Coming from a very active Scouting family, he was always interested in and supportive of the Boy Scouts of America. Although not a particularly successful Scout in his own right, he enjoyed Scouting activities and appreciated the value of the Scouting experience and encouraged his sons to participate in the program. He served as a troop committeeman, troop committee chairman, and served several years on the executive board of the National Capital Area Council, where he was awarded the prestigious Silver Beaver award for his service.
In addition to the boards of Atlantic Research Corporation and the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts, he served on the boards of the Virginia Engineering Foundation, the Virginia Manufacturers Association, the former City National Bank of Washington (D.C.), the Professional Services Council, and as commodore of the Moran Creek Yacht Club.
In retirement in the Northern Neck, he continued another lifelong love—the water. With a succession of boats, he and his family had boated and fished extensively for years in the Smith Point area. Later, he and Maria sailed extensively in the Chesapeake Bay, coastal California and the Caribbean. They were active skiers and enjoyed skiing throughout the western states. They also travelled extensively worldwide.
In 1996, they purchased a home in Weems, on the lower Corrotoman River, which they named Sunset Point in recognition of its spectacular sunset views, and where they lived together until Maria’s death in 2009. In 2012, Jerry moved to Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury in Irvington.
He was an active supporter of several charitable organizations in the Northern Neck, but particularly the Lancaster Community Library, where he maintained the library’s computers, network and wireless access system for many years. Some of his favorite and most rewarding retirement activities involved assisting Maria with the many community activities in which she was involved. He and Maria were also contributors to the Rappahannock General Hospital Foundation.
Currie Funeral Home LLC of Kilmarnock handled the arrangements.
