Theodore Reginald Hayman went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Oct. 24, 2020.
He was born on Mar. 31, 1924, in Greenwich, Conn., and spent his early years attending to the needs of his family’s flower growing operation in New Baltimore, Mich.
At the onset of WWII, he enlisted into the United States Navy in September of 1942. As a corpsman, chief petty officer, 3rd class, he was assigned to B Company, 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine division, and served in the South Pacific. He participated in assault landings on Tarawa Atoll as well as Saipan and Tinian Islands in the Marianas. He had left Michigan as a teen of 18 years old and returned to Michigan as a combat veteran on his 21st birthday.
Ted was re-assigned to the base hospital at Naval Air Station, Grosse Ille, Mich., where he met his girlfriend for life, Georgianna. They married on Sept. 1, 1945. Georgianna preceded Ted in death last May. They celebrated 73 years of earthly marriage and now are re-united for eternity.
After serving his country, Ted like many other WWII vets, was focused on getting an education, establishing a career and raising a family. He received BS degrees in industrial engineering (1949) and chemical engineering (1953) from Lawrence Technological University, Michigan. During this period of time, in 1952, he was recalled to active US Navy service for the Korean War and was assigned to Patuxent Naval Air Station, Md. He was officially discharged from the United States Navy in 1953 and returned to civilian life in Michigan where he continued his education, receiving an MBA from the University of Michigan in 1958. Over this very busy period of time he and Georginna also were raising five children.
His education lead him to follow a career path in manufacturing. Over his working years, he held various engineering and managerial positions and was employed by Wyandotte Chemicals, Medusa Portland Cement, Riverton Cement, Gold Bond Building Products and National Gypsum.
In 1986,,he and Georgianna retired to Blacksburg. He was a longtime member of the Blacksburg United Methodist Church where he participated in Morning Prayer Breakfasts, ushering, the Murrill Sunday School Class and the Jim Nicols’ Bible Study. He was a past president of the Blacksburg Host Lions Club, a member of the Blacksburg Sports Club and a member of the New River Valley Chapter of the Marine Corps League.
Ted is survived by daughters Gayle (Jerome) Zygner, Kristy (Virgil) Hayes and Janet (Michael) Sims and sons Theodore (Laura) and Peter (Patricia). Also surviving are 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren who will dearly miss their “Papa Theodore.”
In remembrance of Theodore, please consider a donation in his honor to Blacksburg United Methodist Church, 111 Church St., Blacksburg, Va. 24060.
A private family service will be held at a later date.
