Charles Edward Hill

Charles Edward Hill

Mercer-Adams Funeral Service

Charles Edward Hill passed away on Feb. 5th, 2015 at the age of 82. He was born July 28, 1932 in Kingfisher, OK; the middle son of six children born to Robert E. and Alma Hill. He grew up on family farm raising cattle and harvesting wheat. He attended a one room school and in the small town of Cashion only had 7 teachers his during entire schooling. Charles was active in FFA and played shortstop on the school baseball team. He graduated Cashion High School in 1950 and immediately joined the National Guard at the age of 17. He was forever proud to have been a part of the 45th’s 179th “M” Company. He, along with many of his childhood friends from Kingfisher, were mobilized and deployed in the Korean War. Upon returning from Korea Charles graduated from Officer Candidate School before leaving the National Guard and returning to Kingfisher. In Korea at the young age of 19 he was Battalion Motor Sergeant responsible for the trucks and jeeps on the front lines in December 1951 during the coldest winter on record for Korea, temperatures reached 20-25 degrees below zero. Over the years Charles was active in the 45th’s 179th Infantry Regiment Association where in recent years he served as President and Vice President.

Upon returning to Kingfisher Charles worked repairing everything from cars to farm equipment and harvest combines. Charles married Mary Lou Conwell on January 30, 1953. Charles and Mary moved to Bethany where they began their family as he worked selling industrial parts and later machine tools. He worked in the machine tool business for over 60 years, selling and repairing machine tools first for Marshall Supply, Marsuco and Royal Machine Tools before starting his own company, Midland Machine Tools in 1980. Charles continued operating Midland Machine Tools until recently. His natural mechanical ability to look at a part and determine how it functioned and what was required to make it gave him the confidence to sell machinery throughout the state. Charles received numerous awards for sales performance with many national machine tool lines. But the sale was just a small portion of what he did, he was best known for his service and knowledge of many brands and frequently taught in Vo-Tech schools across the state.

Charles enjoyed serving the community by coaching little league baseball, working with and serving on boards for the Westside YMCA; OKC West; the I-40 & Meridian Hotel Association; Westside Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club. Charles was a 32nd Degree Mason, having joined the Masonic Lodge in 1962 and had been active in Bethany Masonic Lodge 529 for over 50 years. Charles loved working with the Boy Scouts, serving as a Cubmaster, Scoutmaster and working at the District Level assisting the Last Frontier Council to develop Slippery Falls Scout Ranch and train scout leaders. He oversaw many young Scouts completing the path to Eagle including his son Eddie, grandson John and Becky’s brother Ricky. He led scouts from Oklahoma to a number of National Scout Jamborees and the kitchen of his home in Bethany was encircled with a collection of Scout Coffee Mugs from around the world. For his service to Scouting, the Last Frontier Council awarded him the Highest Award it can bestow, the Silver Beaver Award.

Charles was active in several local churches having taught Sunday school for many years at St. John’s Methodist and more recently attending Clark Methodist Church. His friendship with Jack Poe and having received a Policeman’s Bible prompted him to try and furnish as many Bibles as possible to officers. He made sure several recruit classes graduating from the Police Academy were provided one as well as taking Bibles to many surrounding agencies. He even sent Bibles to his sister in Seattle where she gave them out to area officers.

For pleasure Charles loved to work on the family farm near Kingfisher, work outside on the acreage they lived on and spend weekends a small cabin the family had at Cedar Lake. Charles and Mary belonged to the Sportsman Club and over the years enjoyed many family dinners for not only the immediate family, but often times the extended family to celebrate birthdays or the holidays.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, Richard Hill and George Hill; 2 sisters, Eva Lauzon and Etta Lanouette and his wife of 51 years, Mary Hill.

He is survived by his son, Charles Ed Hill, Jr. of Edmond and his wife Becky; a daughter Sherian Kaye Bolay of OKC and her husband Dennis. He is survived by 4 grandchildren, Carrie Neifing and her husband Kris of OKC; Stephanie Leftwich and her husband Chris of Topeka, KS; Abilgail Smith and her husband Brandon of OKC; and John Bolay of OKC. Charles has two Great Grandchildren; Masen Neifing and Jett Leftwich; and 1 surviving sister, Alice Shriver, Seattle, WA. His extended family includes a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to give special thanks to the caregivers these past two years at Clare Bridge and most recently the Companion Home Health Hospice and Intregris Hospice House staffs.

Charles was raised in a small town atmosphere and credited the National Guard for his success in life. He loved to talk with people and in recent years shared many stories about his raising, military service and family. Lyrics of a song several years ago describe Charles and his strong will and beliefs:

Born the middle son of a farmer
And a small town Southern man
Like his daddy's daddy before him
Brought up workin' on the land
Fell in love with a small town woman
And they married up and settled down
Natural way of life if you're lucky
For a small town Southern man

Like his daddy, years wore out his body
Made it hard just to walk and stand
You can break the back
But you can't break the spirit
Of a small town Southern man

Finally death came callin'
For this small town Southern man
He said it's alright 'cause I see angels
And they got me by the hand
Don't you cry, and don't you worry
I'm blessed, and I know I am
'Cause God has a place in Heaven
For a small town Southern man

He bowed his head to Jesus
And he stood for Uncle Sam
And he only loved one woman
He was always proud of what he had
He said his greatest contribution
Is the ones you leave behind.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Boy Scouts of America, Last Frontier Council, 3031 N.W. 64th St. OKC, OK 73116 or to the Alzheimer's Association.

Funeral Services will be Tuesday, February 10th at 10am at Mercer Adams Funeral Chapel with Interment at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.