Wayne E. Hastings 1917-2006

HASTINGS, MILLER, LOWRY, DEL PINO, HAMMOCK

Posted By: volunteer
Date: 2/3/2006 at 20:36:03

Wayne Hastings
Memorial services for Wayne E. Hastings, 88, of Lompoc, Calif., will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 7, 2006, at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. David Horning officiating. Private inurnment is at Lompoc Cemetery.

A native of Waukon, Iowa, Wayne was born January 21, 1917, to Dr. E. W. and Helen Miller Hastings. He completed elementary and secondary schooling in Waukon graduating in 1934. During his high school years he was selected to study music at the University of Iowa summer Honors music program from 1932-1934. He was an accomplished pianist and tenor soloist serving in church choirs for over 70 years.

Following graduation, Wayne attended one year of Waukon Junior College then transferred to the University of Iowa graduating in 1938 with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree majoring in vocal music. In 1939 he received his Master’s Degree with a vocal music major. He taught vocal music and social studies for three years at Union Consolidated School in Le Mars, Iowa. In 1942 he accepted a vocal music position in Marengo, Iowa, but in November was called into military service where he served in the 13th Armored, 45th Tank Battalion in the European Theater as a Staff Sergeant. He closed his military service at Camp Cooke, Calif. where he was honorably discharged in February 1946.

He returned to teaching at Union School in Le Mars for two more years before moving to California where he attended College of the Pacific in Stockton for a semester. He spent the second semester teaching vocal music at Emerson Junior High in Pomona, Calif. In August 1949, Wayne moved to Lompoc as vocal music and English teacher. In 1960, after receiving a MSLS degree at the University of Southern California, he became District Librarian for the Lompoc Unified School District. He established 18 school libraries during the next few years and served in this position until retiring in August 1979.

Wayne was a member of the First United Methodist Church, AARP, American Legion National, Arthritis Club, California Retired Teachers Association, charter member of the Lompoc Historical Society, and served as a volunteer with numerous programs including Meals On Wheels.

He died Friday, December 16, 2005, at the Convalescent Care Center.

Survivors include his sister, Eleanor Lowry of Lompoc; nieces Kathy (Ralph) Del Pino of Santa Clara and Carolyn (Mike) Hammock of San Diego; and a great-nephew, Aaron Hammock of San Diego.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 925 North F St., Lompoc 93436, American Cancer Society, 604 E. Ocean Ave., Lompoc or a charity of choice.

Cremation arrangements are in the care of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.

source: Waukon Standard, January 4, 2006