OBITUARY | 2011-09-27
William F. Bill Hill, 86, of Millersburg, died Sept. 25, 2011, at his home, following a courageous fight with cancer.Bill was born Sept. 5, 1925, in Pennsboro, W.Va., to the late Claude and Dicie Hill. He had been working in the oil and gas business ever since he was 16 years old. He bought his first drilling rig in 1950 and was owner and operator of Hill Drilling, Inc., and Hill Producing for 60 years. He and his wife attended Millersburg Mennonite Church.Bill was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of WWII, serving in the South Pacific. Bill and his fellow soldiers where the first troops dispatched into Nagasaki, Japan, after the A bomb was dropped. He was a past board member of the Commercial Savings Bank, was trustee of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association for several years, and was entered into the Ohio Oil and Gas Hall of Fame. He was also on the Independent Petroleum Association of America committee.Surviving are his wife, Lola E. Hoxworth, whom he married Nov. 1, 1946; daughters, Sandra E. (Gary D.) Miller of Millersburg, Darla A. (Wendel) Payn of Seville, Patricia D. Geib of Shreve, and Barbara J. Hill of Millersburg; six grandchildren, William (Raquel) Miller and David M. (Mandi) Miller, both of Millersburg, Stephen (Andrea) Miller of Lakeville, Robert E. Gordon of the U.S. Army, and Julie (Mark) Martin and Bryan (Carrie) McKelvey, both of Shreve; two stepgrandchildren, Jeremy (Cynthia) Payn of Wadsworth and Heather Payn of Cincinnati; 15 great-grandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; sisters, Betty J. Conn of Riverview, Mich., Norma Jo Chapman of Killbuck, Doris J. (Stanley) Orr of Wooster, and Ruth Landon of Killbuck; and numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by sons-in-law, Earl H. Gordon, Ronald McKelvey, and Gary B. Geib.The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Hospice for all the help and care they gave to Bill and his family.Services will be held Sept. 29, at 11 a.m., at Alexander Funeral Home, Millersburg, with Pastors Gerald Craycraft and Patrick and Christine Nafziger officiating. Larry Augsburgers personal written thoughts will be read as part of the service since he is unable to attend. Burial will be in Killbuck Cemetery, with military rites being conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard. Friends may call Sept. 28, from 4-8 p.m.Family suggests memorial contributions be made to Millersburg Mennonite Church, Hospice and Palliative Care of Greater Wayne County, or Hospice of Holmes County.
