2/21/11

William W. Hill Obituary


William W. (Bill) Hill died of a stroke in Bakersfield, CA on February 10, 2011.  He was 78 years old.  He came to the Academy from Linthicum Heights, MD.  Bill was in the 17th Company, on the varsity lacrosse team all four years. In 1954 his team went undefeated and won the National Championship. Bill was in the aeronautical engineering club.  He married the former Betty Billingsley a week after graduation.  The wedding was at West Point where her father, then Colonel John D. Billingsley, was head of the Ordinance Department and later served as Superintendent. The wedding was the first-ever naval officer's wedding in the West Point Cadet Chapel.

Bill was commissioned an ensign in 1954. His first assignment was to Mare Island.  Subsequent tours were in Hawaii 1954 to 1958. He was a Lieutenant, Engineering Officer, USS Durant; Division Officer, USS Columbia, and Assistant Navigator, USS Mindoro.

After 4 years of service he joined General Electric, Jet Engine Division.  His civil career included working with Aerojet-General Corporation, Bertea Corporation, Sunstrand Advanced Technology Group, Lockheed Corporation, Rocketdyne Advanced Programs Support, Boeing Co., Rocketdyne Propulsion and Power—Peacekeeper Product Support Engineering.

Bill and Betty loved watching their granddaughter, Brett, showing horses, western and English style riding.  They especially loved the big black horse they owned, Hunting in the Dark aka Angel. Angel was a World Champion, National and Youth World Champion, while being ridden and shown by Brett.  Bill had a grand passion for playing golf and watching football.

The love of Bill's life, his wife of 53 years, Betty Carol Billingsley Hill, died in an accident on November 7, 2007.  He is survived by his daughter Barbara (Doug) Snowden, daughter Janet (Bret) Gorringe, granddaughter Brett (Brandon) Cook, step-granddaughter Savanna (Walter) Kilifi and step-grandson Preston Snowden.

On Tuesday, February 22nd Dad's services will be as follows:

Valley Baptist Church
4800 Fruitvale
Bakersfield, CA  93308
Viewing, 12pm to 2pm
Service, 2pm

In Lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Life Savers Wild Horse Rescue Inc. at Lifesavers, Inc., 23809 East Avenue J, Lancaster, California 93535

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