Louis E. Hammel Jr.'s Obituary
Louis E. Hammel of Mentone, CA passed away on May 1, 2013. He was 54. Born in Bellflower, CA, Louie was a long time resident of Fontana, CA where he attended Randall Pepper Elementary, Fontana Junior High and Fontana High School.
He graduated from Chaffey College with a degree in Automotive Technology. Early in his career he worked as a dealership mechanic for Ford and Toyota. Later he worked on the research, development and design teams for the Edelbrock Corp, Nitrous Oxide Systems, Jim McFarland and General Motors. Louie authored numerous technical articles for Car Craft, Hot Rod, and Popular Hot Rodding magazines. He was a master high-performance engine builder and dynamometer operator. His U.S. patent for a quick-change metering block was one of his proudest accomplishments.
Louie loved baseball, hiking, canoeing. He coached Little League baseball for many years. In 1991, Louie was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia and became Kaiser Permanente's very first unrelated bone marrow transplant patient. Through the generous gift of life given by his donor Ian Band of Potomac, Maryland, Louie enjoyed his life as a father, husband, brother, son and friend.
Louie is survived by his wife Val, son Evan, sisters Dixie King of Kingston, WA, Darlene Slayton and Susie Omalanz of Belfair, WA, and several nieces and nephews in Calif, Colorado and WA.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the San Gorgonio Wilderness Association. Mail check to: SGWA. 34701 Mill Creek Rd, Mentone, CA. 92359. (909). 382-2906.
Memorial Service Info
Saturday May 11, 2013
1:00 pm
Greyback Amphitheater
San Bernardino National Forest
State Highway 38 (north of Barton Flats Campground)
Approx 25 miles north of Mentone, CA
Light jacket and casual clothes/shoes suggested (area is somewhat rugged)
Parking available at site (no wilderness permit required)
Picnic lunch immediately following service
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