HILL, Russell P.

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 08/07/2015 Russell P. Hill died peacefully July 28, 2015, at his home in Eagar after a brief illness. He was born Nov. 5, 1927, in Wichita, Kan. In 1936 he and his sister moved to California with their parents. Russell attended La Jolla elementary, junior and senior high schools. He played football two years and was class president. He attended San Diego State College three years. While there he was a member of a barbershop quartet and the rowing crew. After college, Russell worked as an insurance adjustor and computer programmer. He later worked as a system analyst and programmer for San Diego United Way for 10 years. He moved to Vermont and again worked for an insurance company. Four years later he wanted to be self-employed. He bought a Midas Muffler shop in Jefferson City, Mo. He and his former wife had separated by then. He met a lady named Jennie in Missouri. They discovered many similar likes. It was not long before they agreed to make it permanent. They were married Aug. 25, 1986, in a little church that his father attended in Kansas. While in Jefferson City, Russell joined a community chorus called “The Cantorum.” He sang with them for nearly 10 years. Russell and Jennie liked the Southwest so they scouted around and found Eagar and its nice people. That was 21 years ago. He became interested in politics and wrote many letters to the editor. He was on the Apache Republican Board and a commissioner of Eagar Planning and Zoning. He became a SAL member of the American Legion. An avid bicycle rider, he spent many hours riding in California, Vermont, Missouri and Arizona. He still rode to Alpine and the surrounding area as late as 2012. He would come home from a long ride exhausted but always said, “It feels so good.” He was on the National Board of American Youth Hostels. “We all hope and pray he is riding his bike, loving every second and having no more pain.” He leaves his loving wife, Jennie; sons Mike and Jon; stepdaughters Kellie and Francine; grandchildren Jennifer and Carrie (Mike), Melissa and Liana (Jon), Jessica and Tim (Kellie) and Nicole (Francine). Preceding him in death were his parents, Percy and Ada Hill, sister Louise Siddall, brothers-in-law Dale and Wallace, sisters-in-law Josephine Weber and Lorraine Smith, and stepson Stephen Todd Lakebrink. Russell was a gentle man who loved meeting people. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Science Cares, Hospice or Alzheimers. The family wishes to thank everyone for the calls, prayers, flowers, food and visits.