Lydia Anna Hammond

Lydia Anna Hammond, age 92, Lancaster, Ohio, passed away and went home to be with her Lord on Monday, July 28, 2025. She had longed for this day when she could meet her best friend, Jesus, and be united once again with her parents and siblings.

Lydia was born to the Reverend Andrew and Susan (Gecy) German in the parsonage of Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pleasant City, Ohio on March 25, 1933, and was graduated from Pleasant City High School in 1951 as Valedictorian of her Senior class.

A talented cook and baker, Lydia was employed by the Lancaster City Schools Food Service from 1971-2006. For the first 13 years, she was a baker for several schools, including the Sanderson, General Sherman, Thomas Ewing and Stanbery buildings. In 1984, Lydia was named Managing Cook at Tallmadge Elementary School, and for the next 22 years she showed love to the students and staff with every meal she served. On her 70th birthday, the school staff presented her a gift for a cruise to the Bahamas!

In addition to her time with the school’s food service program, Lydia concurrently worked for more than 14 years managing the catering for the Lancaster Knights of Columbus banquet hall. Lydia often worked late nights preparing menus and cooking hundreds of meals for wedding receptions, class reunions, business meetings, and fund-raising gatherings.

During the summers of 1988-1989, Lydia also cooked at the Lancaster Methodist Campground for many summer band camps, church group events, and the weekly Sunday cafeteria dinners.

From 1993-2000, Lydia also managed her own food stand for Rich Troup Auctions, and was noted for her delicious home-made pies, cakes, and sandwiches. She averaged baking 600 pies each year. Lydia said she met many nice people during that time “who liked to eat pie, too!”.

For many years, Lydia entered her baked goods at the Fairfield County Fair and was awarded many blue ribbons. In 1969 and 1970, she represented the county at the Ohio State Fair Bake-A-Rama baking her delicious apple pie and cherry pie on location. Earlier in her baking career, Lydia would bake pies for Hugh Bay’s Market and Roots Restaurant.

In 2006, Lydia was awarded the Senior Adult “Hero” Award by the American Red Cross and a special award from the Knights of Columbus for all of her volunteer work.

Even after retirement in 2006, Lydia enjoyed cooking and baking, and she also collected cookbooks. She would continue to bake pies and cakes in her home at the request of her church friends, teachers, and administrators. Her cakes with “Lydia’s Icing” were often in demand for graduations, anniversaries, and birthdays. Doing the Lord’s work, Lydia consistently sent hand-written notes, cards, and even church bulletins to shut ins and took them food.

Lydia was strong in her faith and loved her church and her church family. If you were a church visitor, it is likely that you would have received a note, a phone call, or even a personal visit with some baked goods inviting you to come back to visit church again. If you were a stranger meeting Lydia for the first time, one of the first questions she would ask you is, “Where do you go to church?”.

Lydia served the church in many ways, including Mission and Stewardship Board evangelism, Sunday School staff, assisted with Vacation Bible School, Clown Ministry Program (with friend Florence), sang in the church choir, served on the many dinner committees and participated in the many local holiday parades.

Lydia enjoyed watching basketball games and Ohio State events. She also rooted for whatever high school and college teams her son and son-in-law were coaching and administrating.

Referring to a note she wrote upon her retirement, Lydia stated, “The Lord has blessed me with good health, and He directs my path each, and every day. I have enjoyed my life and work.”

In addition to her parents, Lydia was preceded in death by brothers Ted German, Dan German and Paul German, sister Ruth Milan, sister-in-law Shirley German, and brother-in-law Andy Milan.

Lydia is survived by her children, sons Paul (Chelle) Hammond, Kent, Ohio, and John Hammond, Lancaster, Ohio, daughter Rebecca (Greg) Bush, Vandalia, Ohio, loving grandsons Andrew Bush, Timothy (Ashley) Bush, Andrew Hammond, and Matthew Hammond, sister-in-law June German, former sister-in-law Carol Foor, nine nephews and two nieces, and good friend Florence Owens. She leaves behind a very loving family, her church family, countless teachers, friends and all the students she loved serving in the cafeteria.

Calling hours will be Sunday, August 10, 2025 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the FRANK E. SMITH FUNERAL HOME, 405 N. COLUMBUS ST., LANCASTER, OHIO 43130. Funeral service will be on Monday, August 11, 2025 at 10:30 a.m., with calling hour one hour prior at 9:30 a.m., at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1400 Concordia Dr, Lancaster, Ohio 43130, with the Reverend Dr. John Davidson officiating. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery, Lancaster, Ohio.

The family gives many thanks to those who assisted with Lydia’s health and memory care journey. Thank you to the staff at Scott’s Place, the administration, staff, and forever family of nurses and aides at Altercare Lanfair Speret Hall, and Absolute Hospice, all for their excellent professional and customer service and the friendships they created with Lydia and her family. In addition, the family greatly appreciates that Lydia was showered with the multitude of cards, greetings, spiritual prayers, and visits from Pastor Davidson and Redeemer Lutheran Church family and loving friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Lydia’s honor to Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1400 Concordia Drive, Lancaster, Ohio 43130.

To send an online condolence, and sign the guestbook, please visit www.funeralhome.com

Psalm 121