Billy Hugh Hill

Billy Hugh Hill, age 91, of Gatesville passed away Tuesday, December 22, 2015. There are no services scheduled. On January 9, 1924, Billy Hugh Hill was born in a walnut grove in Whittier, California to Capitola (nee Hunter) and Charlie Claud Hill. He always said he was a Texan because he was conceived in Texas, before his parents headed out for California looking for work as migrant farm workers. In those days most migrant workers came from Texas and Oklahoma trying to escape the dust bowl. Billy Hugh joined his older brother, Charlie E. Hill, and their folks as they saw a lot of the western United States in a Model-T, which was a vehicle that they sometimes had to get out and push up hills. In his teens, Billy Hugh was involved in a farming accident on a tractor. His big toe was crushed and had to be amputated. It bothered him his whole life and over the years led to damage to his knees. He never let it slow him down and never stopped him from wearing cowboy boots. He drove his first truck at 14 and knew that was the job he wanted. He drove the big trucks (he owned a few along the way too) for 55 years. He could have driven longer, but the insurance companies have a cut-off age. He always said, “If there is a road to it, I have probably been there.” He never stopped wanted to see what was over the next hill. He was a fair shade tree mechanic, a top notch welder and had magic in his hands when it came to wood working. He worked some in the off-shore oil fields with his brother. He worked as a guard for an armored car company, where he got to travel down the road setting on a bag with a million dollars in it. He did some rent-a-cop work after the truck driving came to an end. He won trophies for his competition pistol shooting. He lived a long life. He lived to see his oldest son, SSG Billy David Hill, finally come home from Vietnam after being MIA for almost 48 years. He died five days after the service for his son. His health had declined in the three weeks leading up to the funeral. He was not able to attend, but he did watch some of it on the TV news and was so proud to know that so many people had come out to give Billy David a hero’s welcome home. Several of Billy David’s friends and fellow Black Cats came by to visit him after the funeral. He was very pleased to see them. He outlived all three of his sons, Billy David Hill, Robert C. Hill, and Charlie E. Hill II. He also outlived his brother, Charlie E. Hill and a great-nephew, Donald Jacobs. When the doctor told him that he did not have much time left he said, “I am ready to go play cards with my brother.” They always liked to play cards every chance they got. His brother, Charlie, died in 2007. He lived with his two nieces and is survived by them, Judy Hill and Beverly Hill Jacobs (Scott Lemon). He is also survived by his son Robert’s two children, Tara Hill and Ryan Hill, son Charlie II’s daughter, Kellie Hill and her son, Townes Eugene; great-nephews, Dean Jacobs (Shelly Dunn) and Douglas Jacobs (Jeff Mikeska); great-great-nephew, Matt Owens (Karen); great-great-nieces, Erika Jacobs, Katrina Jacobs, Crystal Gould (James), Kimberley Wilkins (Christopher); great-great-great-nephews, Justin, Geordon, Joey, and Braxton; and great-great-great-nieces, Kylee and Abby.