Paul Rifner Hamm

1950 - 2023

Paul Rifner Hamm made his final ride on February 24, 2023 into the presence of his Lord after riding hard and being completely worn out. Paul was born in Ashland, Oregon on September 30, 1950 to Bernard Leo Hamm and Margaret "Peggy" Guiley (Hamm). He was the great grandson of Charles D. Rifner an early Oregon pioneer that crossed on the Oregon Trail and settled on a homestead at Howard Prairie between Ashland, Oregon and Klamath Falls, Oregon. Paul spent his youth in and around Klamath Falls enjoying riding an old Indian motorcycle. Paul graduated from Klamath Union High School in 1968, which is where his mother attended High School.

Shortly after graduation Paul then joined the Navy where he attended numerous Navy training schools to become a Naval Aviation Electrician. Paul was attached to VA-147AE shop in FPO San Francisco, California. This squadron was a sea going squadron which deployed aboard the U.S.S. America and the U.S.S. Constellation. While attached to this squadron he served two tours in the Republic of Viet Nam. After those tours Paul was attached to VA - 122 - I.W.T. Naval Air Station in Lemoore, California. His squadron purpose was to train pilots and maintenance personnel for fleet squadrons. I.W.T. stands for Integrated Weapons Team, whose purpose was to maintain the A7-E's radar, computer and weapons delivery systems. During those tours he gained experience in systematic troubleshooting of electrical and electronic systems which would serve him well for the rest of his career. During his service in the Navy he awarded several medals including the Meritorious Unit Commendation Metal and the Presidential Unit Citation. Paul was honorably discharged in 1975 having achieved the rank of E-5 (AE-2).

After his discharge from the Navy Paul took courses in Electronic Engineering Technology at Oregon Institute of Technology. While at O.I.T. Paul purchased a 1976 Commemorative Edition Harley Davidson motorcycle from one of his professors that he enjoyed riding around the country including a trip to Sturgis.

After the school at O.I.T. Paul worked for Weyerhauser Company in Klamath Falls, Oregon in the Particleboard Plant. He became a Manufacturing Plant Electrical Apprentice where he worked in all phases of Electrical Operations, after which he advanced to Journeyman Manufacturing Plant Electrician. When he was not working Paul took Karate lessons from Gordon B. Hansen at the Mountain Warrior Schools of Karate where he advanced to a 1st Degree Black-Shorin-Rye belt. This training would be of great value when working at Merle West Medical Center. Paul with his friend Cliff Crawford also started a Karate school in Keno, Oregon.

Moving from Klamath Falls, Oregon to Hanford, California Paul went to work at Armstrong Rubber Company where he was a Journeyman Manufacturing Plan Electrician. He was responsible for the installation and maintenance of all electrical and electronic equipment in the entire manufacturing plant for the production of tires.

Moving back to Klamath Falls Paul went to work at the Merle West Medical Center where he was the hospital Electrical Supervisor where he had one Oregon Journeyman Electrician and two Oregon Limited Electricians under his direct supervision. Paul became involved in the Crisis Intervention Program (Code 4). He held an instructor's license from the "National Crisis Prevention Institute". As an instructor he helped Merle West Medical Center implement a training program for hospital staff crisis responders. The training program that he help developed was a project that he was very proud of.

After leaving the hospital Paul went to work for Klamath County School District as a Master Electrician where he had the responsibility for the electrical equipment in all schools in Klamath County. When he was not working Paul built a snowmobile using a flathead Harley engine that was placed on a Snow Shovel frame. When he went to join other snowmobile riders, they said that they could hear him coming a mile away.

He traveled to Tombstone, Arizona to visit a longtime friend and ended up buying a house that same day. Paul returned to Keno, Oregon and moved all his belongs to Tombstone. After settling in Tombstone Paul was soon chosen by his faithful companion Chico, a rat terrier. He passed the Arizona Electrician Test, started his own business called Paul's Electric and became the only licensed Electrician in Tombstone. He soon had the contracts for the city and the School District for all electrical maintenance. Paul also did work for many of the businesses and homes around Tombstone. He also drove his bucket truck to Tombstone that he used to fix the street lights and hang banners during different Tombstone events like Helldorado. Paul also participated as a reenactor and appeared in an online advertisement for Tombstone.

Paul was also a member of the VFW and the American Legion.

Paul is survived by his wife Corine Benedict (Hamm), sister Dorilee Eastman and her children Jeff Eastman, Lisa Holmes, Jennifer Eastman of Ashland, OR, his brother Bernard Hamm and his children Karla Harker, Mark Hamm of Sparks, NV, daughter Tamara and her children Aaron, Ryan, and great grandchildren Aurora and Robin, daughter Trella and her children Alyssa, Cassidy, Chloe and Caiden.

A military service will be held on March 15, 2023, at the Ashland, Oregon Cemetery at 1 p.m. with a Celebration of Paul's life to follow at the Litwiller - Simonsen Funeral Home, 1811 Ashland Street, Ashland, OR 97520. Phone number (541) 482-2816.