Riginald W. Hatch

Reginald W. Hatch Reginald Winston Hatch was born May 25, 1931 in Kingfisher, Oklahoma to R.M. and Irma Hatch. He died January 19, 2011 in Portland, Texas. He was the second of three sons. As a young boy he lived in both Oklahoma and Texas. He joined the Air Force and served in the Korean War shortly after High School and wanted to be a Pilot. The war came to an end and he continued his education, attending the University of Texas Tech in Lubbock. It was there that he met the first love of his life, Margaret Ann Rimmer and after a lengthy engagement of 11 days, they eloped to get married. They had two daughters, Lisa Ann and Teri Lyn. He worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone company while the girls were young. But Reg loved people, and found his niche promoting Austin, Texas through the Austin Aqua Festival and also was the Executive Director of the Austin Chamber of Commerce. They spent most of their free time as a family racing sailboats on Lake Travis and proved to be the team to beat. After the girls were out of the house, they moved to East Texas where they both ran and operated a business, Hickory Ridge Farms selling smoked meats and sandwiches to happy travelers along interstate 20. They were married for 27 years until Ann died of cancer. Not often are men blessed with remarkable women, but Reg was blessed with two. He married the second love of his life, Iva Jean Thomas and they just recently celebrated 30 years of marriage. It was then that he gained a step son, Tommy. He quickly changed professions and ended his working career as a High School Teacher teaching computers. In 1997 he and Jean moved to Portland, Texas to be closer to their family and it was there that he lived out his life. He was happiest when he was tinkering with something, whether it was repairing a broken appliance, doing something with wood, or rebuilding anything the thought was useful even if it came from someone's trash on the curb. He saw value in things when no one else did. It was the same with people. Reg loved people and was more than willing to offer a hand to anyone in need. He was a generous, loving man. He was crazy about his grandkids and was proud of each of their accomplishments. If you spent anytime with him, you would know that he loved to talk about them and brag on each one. He was preceded in death by his parents, R.M and Irma Hatch, his brothers Don and Kenneth Hatch and his wife, Margaret Ann Hatch. He is survived by Iva Jean Hatch, his wife, and daughters, Lisa Ann Turner and Teri (Tom) Mayo and a step son Tommy (Shelia) Thomas. Grandchildren Michael Elliott (Abbie) Mayo. Matthew Winston (Robyn) Mayo, Margaret (Maggi) Mayo, Nicholas Austin (Teresa) Turner, Zachary Ryan Turner, Kristin Ann Turner and Sterling Lynch. He had 5 Great Grandchildren, Nathan Elliott Mayo, Michaela Annette (Annie) Mayo, Noah Austin Turner, Brycen Cade Turner and Grace Marie Mayo. Other survivors include his Father in Law, Charles (Stella) Sisson, Sister In Laws, Peggy Hatch and Exilee Sherrer and several other cousins and nieces and nephews. `A visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at Guardian funeral home from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Services will be held at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at Guardian funeral home. Interment with Military honors will follow at 2:00 p.m. at The Coastal Bend State Veterans cemetery. 9974 IH 37 access rd.