Litchfield – Wayne F. Hatch Sr., 73, a resident of Plains Road, died early Sunday morning, May 18, at his home surrounded by his loving family following a long illness.

He was born on July 4, 1934, in Randolph, the son of John M. and Eleanor (Hinkley) Hatch. Wayne was a 1953 graduate of Gardiner High School.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1962. On July 2, 1960, he married Mildred “Millie” Rowe of Litchfield. He worked as an insurance agent for John Hancock Insurance Co. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Gardiner, a past deacon of the Litchfield Plains Baptist Church, he also served as commander of the William R. Bold Post 181, Litchfield American Legion, for nine years, he was a member of the Morning Star Masonic Lodge in Litchfield, and served on the Sabattus Credit Union nomination committee.

Wayne and Millie were a presenting couple for the Baptist Expression of Marriage Encounter in Maine. They were also regional couple for the east coast and later the executive lay couple for the United States. He and Millie enjoyed traveling, and went to Hawaii and Aruba, they also visited many of the major cities in the United States with the Marriage Encounter Group. Wayne was an avid New York Yankee fan and often got razzed by his family.

He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

He is survived by his wife Millie, of Litchfield; four sons, Wayne F. Hatch Jr. and his wife, Joyce, of West Gardiner, Jeffrey Hatch and his life partner, Bob Nazlian, of Augusta, Johnathan Hatch and his wife, Susan, of Litchfield and Thomas Hatch and his fiancée, Carol Ayer, of Biddeford; two daughters, Jo-Ellen Staples of Augusta and Rachel Dunnett and her husband, Robert, of Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada; 13 grandchildren; and three great-granddaughters.

He was predeceased by his parents; six brothers; and four sisters.