Col. James A. Hill (U.S. Army, retired), 94, passed away Feb. 20, 2014 in Gulf Shores.
He was born to Samual Mal and Eleanor Foster Hill on Jan. 23, 1920, in Fosters, Ala. He met and married his wife of 67 years while earning his B.S. degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Alabama.
Upon graduation in 1943, he received an ROTC commission and entered the Army, where he had a long and distinguished career, serving in WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, earning numerous honors and medals for his actions and bravery while participating in such events as the landing on Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge.
His distinguished military career included serving as director of research and development of U.S. Army’s Weapons Command and director of maintenance, U.S. Army Pacific.
He participated in the Honor Flight in May 2013, which celebrated and honored surviving WWII veterans.
He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a life member of the American Legion and Military Officers Association of America.
After retiring from the military, he and his wife lived in San Antonio, Texas and loved to travel and cruise extensively, traveling to all continents, except Antarctica.
They also enjoyed golf, and played some of the world’s best and most unusual courses.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Louise Rollins Hill; sons, James Hill Jr. and Thomas Hill; and brothers, Sam Hill and Richard Hill.
He is survived by his daughter, Sandra Hill Moody and husband Gary Klussman; son, Donald Hill and wife Debbie; granddaughters, Melissa Daniel and husband Brian, and Katie Hill; grandson, Thomas Hill and girlfriend Allison Horner; great-granddaughters, Mia, Alex and Chloe Daniel; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law.
Interment will be at Grants Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Fosters on Saturday, March 1, 2014, at 1:30 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to Wounded Warriors or Disabled American Veterans.
