MURFREESBORO – Hiram Cox Hill, Jr., age 90, of the 500 block of Woodridge Drive, died Saturday, May 2, 2009, at his home.
Mr. Hill was born in Winder, GA, a son of the late Hiram C. Hill, Sr. and Martha Elizabeth Freeman Hill. He was a member of Murfreesboro Baptist Church and was the widower of Ruth Hirschman Hill.
Hiram was a graduate of Wake Forest College and Pensacola Naval Academy. For most of his life he worked as a building contractor, but his real passion was flying. He was a Naval Aviator and Flight Commander of Reserve Squadron 861/18. He shared his love of flying by being a flight instructor in the Navy and for many local people. Mr. Hill was also an electronics information pioneer.
Left to cherish his memory are two daughters, Barbara Elizabeth Hill Hall of Eden, NC, and Jane Hill Ballance of Murfreesboro; a sister, Patricia Hill Joyner, and a brother, Bob Freeman Hill, both of Murfreesboro; his grandchildren, Charlie Hall of Tega Cay, SC, Lynne Hall Washburn of Chambersburg, PA, William Ballance of Charlotte, NC, Mamie Ballance of Jersey City, NJ; and Jan Hall of Savannah, GA; and seven great grandchildren.
A celebration of life service will be held at Murfreesboro Baptist Church on Wednesday, May 6, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. Lee Canipe and Rev. Thomas Caulkins officiating. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the home. Memorial donations may be made to University Health Systems Hospice Care, P.O. Box 272, Ahoskie, NC, 27910 or to Murfreesboro Baptist Church, 200 W. Main St., Murfreesboro, NC, 27855.
Garrett-Jones Funeral Home is serving the Hill family. Family and friends may send condolences and sign the online guestbook by visiting www.garrettfh.com.
To my third cousin I connected to while we were researching our great grandmother’s who were orphan sisters,Maggie Norton Hill and Sarah Frances Cox. You was named after my gg grandfather ,Hiram Cox. RIP Hiram ,Fly high cousin!
We remember Hiram as an avid walker and a strong supporter of science programs at Chowan College. One one occasion, he pointed to his shoes and said he had gotten 3000 miles from them. I think he regularly walked to Hardee’s and, probably after visiting with his friends, brought a biscuit home for Ruth.
On another occasion, he was doing a presentation in Camp Hall. He pointed to a large periodic table and said with a big grin, “We didn’t have that many elements when I was at Wake Forest.”
Dear Jane and Barbara,
I have wonderful memories of my Uncle Hi and Aunt Ruth. When I went back to school at the age of 66, Uncle Hi was so proud; his love of education was an inspiration to me. I remember him as a very genial gentleman with a great big smile. I also remember how sweet he was to my Mom and to Aunt Fanny – “Hi’s
Harem,” they said, and Aunt Ruth loved them all. Uncle Hi has a special place in my heart…so do you both.
Love,
Judy