Hubert Clyde
Hill
January 30, 1927 -
April 5, 2013
January 30,
1927 brought joy to Mary Ruth (Kern) Hill and her husband Henry Joseph Hill in
the mining camp at Toms Creek in Wise County, Virginia with the birth of their
first-born, Hubert Clyde Hill.
The youngster
grew and played with his siblings as each arrived in the Hill household. Tragedy came early for Hubert when his father
was killed in the mine in 1935.
Too young to
work at a regular job to help feed the family, Hubert began working at odd jobs
helping anyone who would pay him to work in the fields. He later joined the Civilian Conservation
Corps Camp in Scott County and worked as a water boy before graduating to more
of the regular tasks that resulted in many of the beautiful forest areas of the
County.
In 1942 he
moved to Kingsport to work at the Eastman plant. He was employed there until his retirement in
1986 with time out for his service during World War II.
Hubert was a
tank driver in the Special Tank Battalion 738th known as the Great
Speckled Bird unit. His tank was always
at the head of the column with the loud speakers to ask for surrender of the
enemy. He served in the European Theater
and was involved in many battles, including the Battle of the Bulge. He earned a number of medals and ribbons
including the Bronze Star Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart Medal
and the European American Middle Eastern Service Ribbon. Wounds received during his time of service
resulted in life-long excruciating pain.
After recovery in the hospitals of Europe and the United States, he was
honorably discharged.
He returned home to marry his sweetheart, Erma Lee
Harless, whom he had met as one of his pen pals while in the Army. Together they established a home in the
Morrison City community of Kingsport and raised two children, Brenda and
Kenneth.
Shortly after
his marriage, he found salvation in Christ Jesus his Lord on an altar at the
Morrison City Mission Church. Over the
years he became an accomplished Bible teacher and leader of the church, serving
as a Deacon for over 60 years. He was a
student of the Word of God and lived its precepts in his daily life. He was the head of his household and the
leader of his family. He led his family
to follow Christ and to trust in the Lord in all things.
In 1956 the
family was again impacted by tragedy when a drunk driver crashed into the
family as they were traveling to Christmas festivities. Hubert was pinned in the car with multiple
injuries including the amputation of his left leg. After much surgery and about a year in the
hospital, he returned home and renewed his responsibilities. He gave thanks to God for his healing and
thanks to his friends for helping sustain the family during that time of
devastation.
He was a man of
determination. He worked hard raising a
huge garden each year, serving the community, working at Eastman, tending to
his family, and serving the Church and the work of Christ Jesus.
In his final
years, while suffering from the ravages of Alzheimer’s, he continued to recite
scripture, sing hymns, and pray well past the time that it was expected that
would be possible.
He had a deep
sense of responsibility and worked to show that any handicap would not deter
him from giving an honest day’s effort on the job, at home, or at church. Although his pain was unrelenting, he never
gave any indication of his suffering to those with whom he worked and
worshipped.
Hubert has gone
to be with His Savior to enjoy an eternal
life that holds no more pain and suffering. The joy of his grand reunion with those who
have gone before him cannot be imagined.
He has left
behind a family that loved him beyond measure.
His wife of 66 years, Erma Lee (Harless) Hill; daughter and son-in-law
Brenda and Ed Miller; son and daughter-in-law Kenneth and Janet Hill;
grand-sons Nathan Miller and wife Ashley; Matthew Hill and wife Amanda; and
Timothy Hill; grand-daughters Lee-Anna
Miller Thomas and husband Rocky, and Lydia Hill; great-grandchildren Presley Miller, Jon Thomas, Caleb Hill, and
Abigail Hill; his brothers Carl Hill and wife Reta, Rev. Joe Hill and wife
Joann, and sisters Henrietta Roach and Carolyn Cunningham and husband Bill.
“Precious in
the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.”
- Psalms 116:15
Thank you for your prayers for the family and especially for his beloved wife, Erma.
