Bob served in the Air Force as a navigator and radio operator from 1953-1957. In 1959 he completed training as an air traffic controller at the FAA Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City and he worked for 28 years, first in St. Louis and later at the ATC Center in Olathe, Kansas. During his career he earned three quality performance awards from three different supervisors in three different decades.
H was briefly married to Ella Mae Barron in 1953; the couple had one son, Michael. He married Donna Gay Francis in 1958; the marriage lasted 18 years and they raised two sons, Thomas Loyal Hill and Rob Hill.
He was a proud 32nd degree Mason. In the spring of 2017 at the Mount Olive Lodge in Fordland, Missouri, where he was a member, he was presented with a certificate of honor of his service of 50 years as a Master Mason. He became a member of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in 1973, joining the Abdallah Temple. He was also a long time member of the American Legion.
Bob was an avid baseball and sports fan. Growing up near St. Louis, he attended Cardinals games with his dad and watched Stan Musial play many times. Later, living in the Kansas City area, he and his son, Rob watched George Brett and the Royals, attending every single game one season.
In 1978, Bob met and married Cheryl (Darbyshire) Matheny. They were married for 40 years. Bob retired in 1983 and enjoyed a long retirement, fishing and hunting at Truman Lake, remodeling houses, completing carpentry projects, country dancing, and motorcycling all over the country with many friends, particularly with very dear long-time friends, Bill and Diane Rose. The Roses and the Hills shared many biking miles, saw lots of breathtaking scenery, enjoyed countless meals together, and supported each other through difficult times.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother, Ann, two infant sisters, Joyce Ann and Mary, and his three Hill uncles, Ivan, Don and Wayne.
Bob leaves behind his wife, his sons, daughter-in-law, Jodi Hill of Overland Park, Kansas, a step-son, Mike Matheny of Gardener, Kansas; four step-brothers, Larry, Bill, Ron and Kevin Hill of Fredericktown and Farmington, Missouri, eight grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews on both his side and Cheryl's. The nieces and nephew all adored their Uncle Bob - they thought he was funny and they loved his stories, and sometimes they snickered a the language he used because they were not allowed to use those words.
We know that Bob is in a better place. We know he is with Raymond and with his mother whom he has deeply mourned and missed or 63 years; we can only imagine how sweet that reunion must be. But his passage leaves an empty space in the hearts of all of us who knew and loved his here on earth. Following Bob's wishes, he will be cremated nd inurnment will take place at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville. Hoping and praying to be blessed with green grass and some warm, beautiful, sunny days in late May, the exact date is yet to be determined. Check this web site for updates.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home.
