Funeral services for Mr. Edward Lee Hammons, beloved husband of Peggy, will be held on Sunday, October 3, 2010 at 3pm at the Veterans Memorial Park, 1435 East Richland Ave., Aiken. Interment will take place at a later date in Corpus Christi, TX. George Funeral Home & Cremation Center is assisting the family. The family will receive friends one hour before the service at the Veterans Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be directed to Ridgeview Baptist Church, 1744 Georgia Ave, North Augusta, SC, 29841 or the James L. Hammons Detachment #939, P. O. Box 3431, Aiken, SC, 29802, or the Military Order of the Purple Heart, P. O. Bo 3343, Aiken, SC, 29802. Mr. Hammons, 66, of Aiken, died Friday, October 1, 2010 at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. Born in Livermore, CA, he was the son of the late Willie Edward Hammons and Minnie Shetley Hammons. He moved to Aiken in 1985 from Corpus Christi, TX. He was a member of Millbrook Baptist Church and a previous member Ridgeview Baptist Church. He served in the Marine Corps from 1963 to 1966. He received a Purple Heart, Vietnam Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Service Medal and a Rifle Marksman in the Vietnam War. Ed started the James L. Hammons Detachment #939 in memory of his brother. He chartered twenty new detachments in the Department since May 2002. Ed helped raise money for the Veterans Memorial Park and created a Marine Recruit Send Off Ceremony that attracted Marine Corps Recruiting Stations nationwide for new recruits. He was on the Mayor of Aiken "Character Committee" and directed the Memorial Day Parade. Ed was a member and officer of the Matt Dillon Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 2005. Ed could be seen each week volunteering at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center. Ed received the William "Bill" Carter Award, Department Marine of the year 2002, Detachment Marine of the Year in 1996, 2002, and 2003. He also won the Distinguished Citizens Award Silver with 4 Stars, the Distinguished Citizens Award Bronze with 5 Stars, Department Individual Meritorious Commendation Certificate, and the SC State Senate Recognition - Distinguished Citizen Award Gold 2003. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by four brothers. He is survived by his wife, Peggy Hammons, stepchildren, Sharon Patrick Grimes, Elizabeth, IN, Diane Craig Baker, Appling, GA; Jill Mike Tanner, Strasburg, VA; Margaret Wayne Eakins, Gloverville, SC, son, Dean Edward Hammons, Charlotte, NC, sister, Mary Hammons Miller, Corpus Christi, TX, eight step grandchildren, nieces, Kelley Brashear, Karen Kilgore, Abby Hammons, Stephanie Hammons, nephew, John Edward Kilgore.