William Ham, Jr.

William James Ham, Jr. of Ilwaco, Washington, died peacefully after an extended illness in the early hours on June 18, 2024 at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria, Oregon. He was 79.

Born in Winthrop, MA on September 20, 1944, to the late Ruth and William Ham, he spent much of his childhood in Danville, New Hampshire, and his teen years in Falls Church, Virginia where graduated from George C. Marshall High School. 

He began a long and distinguished career in the United States Coast Guard in 1965, receiving his basic training at Training Center Cape May in New Jersey. His first post was on the cutter Shadbush, a buoy tender based in Mobile, Alabama, before getting selected for the crew that helped transport a new 82’ cutter, the Point Sal, from Tacoma to Mobile via the Panama Canal. 

From there, he served aboard the Coast Guard Cutters Rambler, Sebago, Evergreen, Munro, and Boutwell. It was on the latter boat that he was part of the crew that responded to the MS Prinsendam, a cruise ship that sank in the Gulf of Alaska in 1980, helping ensure the safety of the 520 crewmembers and passengers. In addition, he held a number of important posts during his ashore tours, including Officer in Charge of the Boating Safety Team in Seattle, WA; Commanding Officer of Stations Gloucester, MA and Neah Bay, WA; and at the National Motor Lifeboat School in Ilwaco, WA where he supervised the test team for a new 47’ motor life boat and served as Commanding Officer. 

During his years of service, he was awarded a National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, a CG Sea Service Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, and a Meritorious Service Service Medal with “O” Device. Most importantly, it was during his time in Mobile, AL that he met his wife, Carol S. Ham, then of Semmes, AL. The couple were wed on July 17, 1966 and remained married until his passing. 

After retiring from the Coast Guard in 1995, he soon began teaching radar navigation and boat safety at Clatsop Community College’s Maritime Training School. He held that position until his retirement in 2016. 

What never came to rest during his life was his curious mind. The shelves in his home were filled with everything from Eastern philosophy, science fiction, Beat poetry, quantum mechanics, and cartooning. An early adopter of personal computers, he taught himself various programming languages and used his home desktops to do everything from testing his skills as a chess player to hosting live broadcasts on a number of Internet radio stations that allowed him to showcase his love of music. 

In addition to his wife, Mr. Ham is survived by sister Nancy Ham Mazza of Egg Harbor, NJ; brother-in-law John Robison of Hanover, MA; sisters-in-law Sharon Powell, Kay Harris (Calvin) and Judy Sheppard (Charles); his three children (William C. Ham of Ilwaco, WA, Susan Miller-Josselyn and Robert M. Ham, both of Portland, OR); seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by sisters Barbara Robison and Joan Gray. A celebration of life will take place on September 14 from 2 - 5 p.m. at 7000 Capt Gray Drive in Ilwaco, WA. The hosts ask that you bring a dish to share with other guests.