James Stewart Hamm

James Stewart Hamm died Monday, Feb. 10, 2025 at the Willows of New Castle after having been in failing health for the past five years. He was 90 years old. Born in New Castle Feb. 5, 1935, Jim was the son of Fred and Martha (Stewart) Hamm. 

He grew up on farms in Liberty Township and attended the old Ashland School. He graduated from New Castle High School in 1953, where he was a proud member of the track team. In 1954 he went to work in the die room at Chrysler, from which he retired in 1992. Subsequently he worked part-time for several years at the Rose Bowl. He also operated an ice cream shop in Metamora for a few years in the 1980s.

He was a lifelong member of First Friends Meeting in New Castle and served a number of years as a trustee. Until his health failed, he was always available to usher at services as needed.

As a young man, Jim played golf, baseball, and softball, then became an enthusiastic bowler. Rolling a perfect 300 game was one of his proudest accomplishments. Later he took up fishing, although as much for the pleasure of spending time with friends like John Rutherford and Bill Cable as for what they caught.

Jim especially enjoyed working with boys and young men. With his close friend Bob Lee, for many years he coached the Little League Baseball Tigers and the Evening Optimist Basketball League Rose Bowl team. In 1975 he was named Evening Optimist of the Year.

On June 11, 1955, Jim was married to Diane Knotts, who survives him. Other survivors include two sons, Thomas (wife Mary Louise Reynolds) of Richmond, and Duke (wife Cathy) of New Castle; two grandsons, Benjamin (wife Emily) of Spiceland, and Matthew (wife Laura) of New Castle; three great-grandchildren, Simon, Jude, and Selah Hamm of Spiceland; a sister-in-law, Cathy Jo Kenemer of DeLand Florida; a brother-in-law, J. Michael Miller (wife Sue) of Paso Robles, California; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Laura Jean Neal, in 2007; a sister-in-law, Penny Jane (Knotts) Miller in 1999; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Mefford B. and Dorothy Knotts.

Friends may call at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Home from 4 to 7 on Friday, Feb. 21. Funeral services will be held at Hinsey-Brown on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 1:00 p.m. Burial will follow in South Mound Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to New Castle First Friends Meeting or the Penny Jane Knotts Miller Fund at the Henry County Community Foundation.  You may express condolences or share a memory of James at www.hinsey-brown.com.