Richard Warren Hatch, Jr., 85, of Sheepscot, died peacefully in his sleep at home early on the morning of July 16. He was born on March 20, 1923 in Springfield, Mass. to Richard Warren and Harriet Hildreth Hatch. He attended Deerfield Academy before moving to Hawaii where he graduated from Punahou Academy in Honolulu, Hawaii. He enlisted in the military where he proudly served two tours of duty as a Navy pilot. He returned home from the war and attended Brown University where he received his B.A. in English Literature. He later went on to take advanced courses in mechanical engineering at MIT.
For many years he worked as an engineer at the Foxboro Company in Massachusetts before moving first to New Hampshire and then to Maine in 1986. His engineering skills led him to design and build a machine that manufactures small plastic folders for the strain gage industry. He continued to work actively at his home business, Precision Components, until the time of his death. In his spare time he repaired and restored antique clocks, as well as designed and built several clocks, which he gave to his children.
Richard had an abiding interest in music, and especially organs, which led him to compose music for the 23rd Psalm. He and his wife, Janet Simmons Hatch, were devoted members of The First Congregational Church of Wiscasset, which they attended together.
Richard was a member of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire Free and Accepted Masons, an avid reader, a lover of cats and old clocks, as well as yearly excursions to Sanibel Island with his beloved wife of 39 years.
He was predeceased by his brother John.
He is survived by his wife; his seven children, Marcy, Jonathan, Elizabeth and husband Hemanshu, Sarah and husband Bill, Rebecca and husband John, William Joshua and wife Britt, and Joel and wife Beth; sister-in-law, Sherry; nephews, Mark and Chris; niece, Melissa; and grandchildren, Sean, Ross, Anna, Joel, Meghan, William, Catherine, Cedar, Maya and Sanbate.
Services 11 a.m., Wed., July 23 at the First Congregational Church in Wiscasset.
Those who wish, may make a donation in his name to The First Congregational Church of Wiscasset, P.O. Box 350, Wiscasset, ME 04578.
Arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Strong Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
