Reverend Robert H. Hill
The Reverend Robert H. Hill, age 86, passed away Saturday, February 19, 2011, at the Cherokee Retirement Center in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
He was born November 18, 1924, in Tulsa to Loretta Evangeline Breeding Hill and Benjamin H. Hill. Robert was the grandson of Brinton Flint and Ethel Breeding who were early citizens of Tulsa working with the Salvation Army. Mr. Breeding later became the superintendent of the Sand Springs Home.
Robert is survived by Pauline, his wife of almost 65 years; his brother, Charles M. Hill and his aunt, Margaret Breeding Skalnik Petrik both of Tulsa. He has a son, Dr. R. David Hill and daughter-in-law Megan Hill of Southwest City, MO; two daughters, Kathye Osborne of Lubbock, Texas and son in-law, Stan Osborne, and Martha Carter of Branson, MO and son-in-law Jack Carter. He was blessed with seven grandchildren: Jessica and Lauren Hill, Benjamin, Kevin, and Katelyn Osborne, Matthew Carter and Rachel Land; and four great-grandchildren, Candice and Caleb Carter children of Matthew and Heidi Carter, and Jayce and Rylan Land, sons of Rachel and Justin Land.
Robert attended Sand Springs High School and before graduating went to Guadalcanal in the Pacific Theater as a Marine during World War II. He was trained as a sniper and was later wounded in action. After his return to Sand Springs, he completed his senior year, then married Pauline J. Ogle on June 14, 1946. He continued his education at Tulsa University where he received a degree in music education.
His teaching career included several positions including choral and band director at a Presbyterian college in Batesville, Arkansas, and high school band director in Heavener and Spiro, Oklahoma. He was then called into the Methodist ministry and studied at the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX.
He served churches in Dustin, Porum, Muskogee, Vian, Gore, and Duncan, Oklahoma. In 1968, he took a leave of absence from the Methodist church and assumed the pastorate of the La Paz Community Church in La Paz, Bolivia, which ministered primarily to the English-speaking international community. He also taught English to missionary students at the Methodist Institute. After four years in La Paz, he and his wife, Pauline, continued their work in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, with ARAMCO where he served a morale group within the oil camp for seven years from 1972-1981.
Robert and Pauline retired at "The Blessing," their home in Cookson, Oklahoma, on Lake Tenkiller in 1991, after once again serving their beloved Gore United Methodist Church.
A memorial service will be held at Gore United Methodist Church on Friday, February 25, 2011 at 12:00 noon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations to the church be sent in memory of Rev. Robert Hill to:
Gore United Methodist Church
Fourth & Winn Streets
Gore, OK 74435
For those of you who knew him and have any memories you might be willing to share with us it would be much appreciated. They may be emailed to Martha Hill Carter at macjec@centurytel.net.
This obituary was published in the Tulsa World on February 24, 2011.