James Hill

James J. Hill, 95, of Brenham went to his heavenly home on Wednesday, January 18. Visitation will be Thursday, January 26, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Strickland Funeral Home in Somerville. Services will be Friday, January 27, 2 pm at the funeral home, with Masonic Burial to follow at Oaklawn Cemetery.

James J. (Jim) Hill, was born on June 5, 1921 in Somerville, Texas, the last of six children to John C. Hill and Matilda Harker Hill. Jim grew up in Somerville and graduated from Somerville High School. In his senior year in high school he joined Company E, 36th Division of the Texas National Guard unit in Caldwell, Texas. After serving one year of a three year enlistment, he was given an honorable discharge when he enrolled as a student at Texas A&M College Corps of Cadets, Class of 1944. These two events kept Jim from being mobilized with the 36th Infantry National Guard units soon after. Months later, the units were engaged with the Germans at the Salerno River in Italy and many were either killed or captured. He left A&M at midterm of his second year and went to work at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, then later transferred to Elmendorf Field near Anchorage, Alaska. He came back from Alaska and entered the Army Air Corps at Kelly Field. After training at Kelly, then Orlando, Florida and Warner Robbins Field in Georgia he returned to Kelly Field. His unit was later sent to Tinker Field in Oklahoma for B-29 training. From Oklahoma, his unit, the 25th Air Depot Group, 20th Air Force was sent to the South Pacific to the Island of Guam. After service there he was returned to Kelly Field to be honorably discharged. After serving his country for almost three years in World War II as a sergeant, he again returned to Texas A&M and graduated in June of 1950. While at A&M he enrolled in the private pilot training program and earned his pilot’s license in 1947. At the age of 83 he was still flying his own plane. He retired from Exxon Mobil Co. after 35 years as an accountant. He was a member of Graham Lodge No. 20 A. F. & A. M., Houston Scottish Rite Bodies, Arabia Temple Shrine—AAONMS, Sons of the Republic of Texas and American Legion Post 455.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John C. Hill, Matilda (Harker) Hill, brothers, Colly D. Hill, Walter L. Hill, Grover C. Hill, sisters, Juanita Schatz, Ella J. Murphy, former wives, Robbie Bain, Juanita Bowden and cherished dogs, Toby, Max and Prissy.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory daughters, Mary Beth Dawes and husband Jim, Karen Sue Hill Bretzke and husband Jack, ex-wife, Evelyn L. Hill, nephew,Terry Murphy and wife Nikki (Cheryl), niece Darla DeLoss and husband Rodney, longtime friends, Bubba Scott, Aaron Collier, numerous nieces and nephews, companion, Mary Pate and beloved pets, Vinny, Jack, Missy and Booger.

Pallbearers are members of Graham Lodge #20 of Brenham.

Honorary Pallbearers are members of Lee Scott Masonic Lodge #793 of Somerville.

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