Charles F. Hamblen

Norwich - Charles F. Hamblen, 67, husband of Judith Ellen (Harding) Hamblen, of Huntington Lane, died Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010, at The William W. Backus Hospital.

Born in Norwich on Nov. 23, 1942, he was the son of the late Charles P. and Elsie (Laycock) Hamblen.

Mr. Hamblen was a graduate of the Norwich Free Academy, class of 1960. He relieved his bachelor's degree from Trinity College in 1964, sixth year certificate in education, and received a master's degree in teaching, and a master's degree in fine arts writing.

On Dec. 23, 1972, he was united in marriage at Park Congregational Church to Judith E. (Harding) Hamblen. Prior to his retirement on June 30, 1998, he was employed as an English teacher at Norwich Free Academy. He also wrote and published a novel, "The Dawn Timers" and recorded two songs.

Surviving are his wife; a daughter, Bethany Jane Hamblen and her husband, Alexander James Woodward, of England; a brother, David Paul Hamblen and his wife, Sandra Starkweather, of Vinton, Va.; two nieces, Kimberly Hamblen Barker and her husband, Jimmy, and her children, Jake and Joshua of Roanoke, Va., and Deborah Hamblen Kipps and her husband, Jason, and children, Mara and Jack of Salem, Va.; and cousins, Jeffrey Laycock and his wife, Joan, of Port Charlotte, Fla., and Suzanne Sypher and her husband, Thomas, of Mystic; and an uncle, Frank Laycock and his wife, Eleanor, of New London.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Labenski Funeral Home, 107 Boswell Ave., Norwich. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday in First Baptist Church, 239 West Main St., Norwich. Interment to follow in Maplewood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Charles P. Hamblen Scholarship Fund, c/o Norwich Free Academy, 305 Broadway, Norwich CT 06360.