Earl R. Hill Richland, Wash. Einan’s Funeral Home

Earl R. Hill, 87, died peacefully Jan. 20, 2004 in Richland WA after an extended illness.

Earl was born April 19, 1916 in Paris, Edgar County, IL. He grew up in Paris, IL and married June Frances Zimmerly at the Zimmerly home in Paris, Dec. 25, 1936. Earl moved his young family from Danville, IL to Richland in 1944 where he proudly worked at Hanford for Du Pont, GE, and Douglas United Nuclear as a supervisor in reactor operations. Earl retired in 1978; and with June moved to Whidbey Island to continue productive hobbies of fishing and gardening, and managing the water system for their Possession Shores community on Whidbey Island.

Earl was an avid hunter and fisherman fish really feared him. He had awe-inspiring energy and he was loved and adored by his family. We fondly remember fishing trips, rock hunting, his cooking fish, playing cards, stories and practical jokes. He was active at various times in the Richland softball league Village Foods, basketball, managing Little League Cahoon Motors, Pasco Elks, 21-year member of South Whidbey Lions, two terms as commodore of the Richland Yacht Club, an active member of the United Methodist Church, Langley, WA, and the So. Whidbey Free Methodist Church.

With declining health, June and Earl returned to the Tri-Cities in 2000. Earl received loving care by his doctors, caregivers, Southridge Special Care Facility in Kennewick and finally at Quail Hollow in Richland.

Earl is survived by his wife June Z. Hill, Richland, WA; son E. Richard Dick Hill Dorothy, Richland, WA and grandchildren Traci Barela and Richard Hill; son John Michael Hill Carolyn, Pasco, WA and grandchildren Maynard and Deran Hill, and Michelle Young; daughter Shanna J. McVicker Dave, Silverdale, WA and grandchildren Amanda Brooks, Daniel, Kela, Gabriel and Nathan McVicker, and 15 great-grandchildren. Earl is also survived by his sisters: Kathryn Sheehy and Ida Church, both in Paris, IL.

He is pre-deceased by his parents Grace Lelah Reasor and Homer Herbert Hill, and brother, Homer A. Johnny Hill, Paris, IL. Earl's father, Homer H. Hill was a son of George E. Hill and Nancy Ann Graves, descendent of Capt. Thomas Graves of Jamestown, VA, delegate to the First Assembly of Virginia, 1619.

A memorial service will be held at Riverview Methodist Church, 4012 W. Court, Pasco, WA 99301 on Tuesday Jan. 27, 2004 at 2:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Earl’s name to Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice, 2108 W. Entiat Ave, Kennewick, WA 99336, Riverview Methodist Church, or the Neurological Center, 712 Swift Blvd. Suite 1, Richland, WA 99352.