William Jacob Ham

William Jacob Ham -MACON - William Jacob Ham died Friday February 17, 2012, at Pine Pointe Hospice after a long illness. -Mr. Ham was born June 11, 1921, to Harvey Jackson and Emma Steller Ham in Cottonton, Alabama. One of three children, his early life was spent in Pittsview, Ala. He was graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Landscape Architecture. -Upon graduation, Mr. Ham entered the Army Air Force and served as provost marshal on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. During the Korean conflict, he was assigned to Furstenfeldbruck in Bavaria. After the war he remained in the Air Force Reserve. He worked until retirement in 1979 at the Boy's Training School in Milledgeville, in multiple duties, including landscaping, groundskeeping, serving as a cottage parent, and in 1948 as acting director. -While attending boys at a Boy Scout camp, he observed a wood carver and, believing he could do that, found himself also to have a gift for carving. After the training school, interested in employment in a different field, he worked for a time at Rheem Mfg Co. in Milledgeville. -Mr. Ham's retirement years were marked by volunteer service. He drove trolley and gave tours for the Milledgeville Convention and Visitor's Bureau; at Blandy Hills Elementary School he built a nature trail, worked with children and parents in various building projects as well as in mentoring some children in special education class. He worked with Habitat for Humanity and with River of Life, an organization of adults and youth in service building and repairing homes of persons in need. -For almost 3 decades he served as captain of ushers at First United Methodist Church in Milledgeville, taught children in Sunday School, built a nature trail which is named for him on the church's lake property and served in other ways. Both in Milledgeville and Macon he participated in recycling programs and delivered Meals on Wheels. In the aftermath of the 1994 flood he assisted locally in distributing water and helping with clean-up. He was recognized in the year 2000 for his public service with an award under the state insurance commissioner's "Building a Better Georgia" program. -Besides a thorough enjoyment of others, Mr. Ham found greatest satisfaction in pursuit of the art of bonsai. He was eager for others to share in that pleasure. He was particularly happy to conduct, at their request, a bonsai class for some young people who served at Carlyle Place where he lived. -Mr. Ham is survived by Earline, his wife of 48 years; and by a niece, Mrs. William Frey of Shalimar, Florida; a great niece a great nephew, 3 great great nieces and 2 great great nephews. -The family express thanks to Dr. Wesley King, Dr. Kevin Young and his staff, to Hospice of Central Georgia, and to Mr. Grover Glover, Mrs. LaRica Reese and Ms. Tameika White, all, for their care during Mr. Ham's illness. -Services will be held at 2:30P.M., Friday, February 24, 2012 in the chapel of Hart's at the Cupola, 6324 Peake Road with the Reverend Messrs. Tommy Perkins, Edward Nelson and Joseph Shippen officiating. The family will greet friends following services at the funeral home. Interment will be in Milledgeville at a later date. -Please remember Hospice of Central Georgia, 6261 Peake Road, Macon 31210, Macon Outreach at Mulberry, P.O. Box 149, Macon 31202 or your favorite charity. -Register online at www.hartsmort.com. -Hart's Mortuary and Crematory at the Cupola has charge of arrangements.