Kenneth ‘Bill’ Edward Hill (1935-2014)

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FARMINGTON – Kenneth “Bill” Edward Hill, 79, of Phillips, died on December 16, 2014 at Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington after a long battle with COPD.

Bill Hill
Bill Hill

Bill was born on April 21, 1935, in Courtland, Alabama, the youngest of three children of Martin and Mary (Holderfield) Hill. Through his early childhood, his family lived in Courtland, Birmingham, and Decatur, Alabama, before moving to Phillips in 1950.

Bill entered the Phillips schools and excelled in sports, namely basketball and track and field, where he won several state meet awards in several different events. Bill graduated from Phillips High School in 1957 and went to work in many different jobs, working a summer at Belgrade Lakes, manufacturing jobs and for a short time at a shipping facility in Atlanta, Georgia.

During his time in school, he dated Elizabeth (Betty) Smith and they were married on Oct. 3, 1959 in Phillips. They made Phillips their home and raised two children, Lisa and Eric.

A dedicated family man, Bill was also known as a dedicated hard working man. Bill and Betty both worked at Forster Mfg in Strong throughout the 1960s. It was there that Bill became a master electrician and a millwright, as well as taking on supervisor and management roles. He took those skills with him to CA&T Lumber Co in Strong in 1972 and worked there for over 25 years where he developed a deep interest in the sawmill industry.

After the mill closed, Bill went to work at Cousineau’s mill in North Anson and retired in 2007. All along, Bill also did residential work, wiring many homes in Franklin County working with his brother-in-law Ed Smith and his son Eric.

Bill’s passions in his later years were his grandchildren, his dogs Brandy, Kandi, Susie, Rosita, Pepe and Prissie; working his yard, making home improvements, keeping up with favorite sports teams such as the Boston Celtics and Denver Broncos, and Internet research.

Bill is survived by his wife, Betty; his daughter, Lisa and fiancé Marcus Rowe; his son, Eric and wife Michelle; his granddaughters, Brooke Averill and husband Kevin, Hailee and Francesca.

He was predeceased by his sister, Sellie “Sally” Parker; his brother, Herbert Hill, his mother, Mary Welts; his grandson, Derek Searles.

Donations in Bill’s memory may be made to the Franklin County Animal Shelter, 550 Industry Rd., Farmington, ME 04938.

Private services will be held at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Services, 488 Farmington Falls Rd., Farmington, ME 04938.

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13 Comments

  1. Phillips has lost another of its “good guys”. Bill was a solid, hard-working family man and a constant anchor for us growing up. He was pretty tolerant, and let us get away with a lot of shenanigans back in the day. I am still impressed with Bill’s ability to speak the simple truth and say a lot with very few words. He will always be a fixture in many of my fondest childhood memories. RIP Bill.

  2. RIP daddy! I was so blessed to have such a wonderful father who was always there for me and my children in anyway he possibly could until the day he died. Many people may not really know who Bill Hill was as he committed his life to his work and immediate family, thus leaving little time for civic activities and friends but for those of us who knew him, he was a genuinely good man and provider whose family will not be the same without him. I love you daddy and you will remain in my heart forever.

  3. Sadly missed, a wonderful husband, father, son, grandfather, and uncle. He was always so good to me. RIP Uncle Bill.

  4. Bill was a very good man.He was a hard worker and had a very kind heart. May he rest in peace(or not). I never knew him to rest. Look out Lord; I can’t imagine Derek and Bill in the same room. Hold on to your hats . Our condolences to you Betty, and your family. My heart goes out to you all. Pat and Wendy

  5. sorry for your loss…Betty ,Eric , Lisa….. to mush sadness around the holidays….i feel your pain….

  6. Betty, Lisa, Eric

    So sorry for your loss of Bill.
    Thoughts and prayers to you all.

  7. Thank you everyone with the kindness and sympathy you have brought to my family. For anyone who really knew my father, you knew what kind of man he was. For anyone who worked for him, he could be hard, demanding, and even difficult. He was often misunderstood by many including myself.
    He grew up dirt poor in the depression era South and it was hard for him to accept excuses; what was expected is what you did. He dedicated himself to his work and seemed a very hard man, but he had a very soft side that came out later in life with the birth of his first grandchild – Derek.
    Derek was born Down Syndrome, had heart issues, and would later succumb to Leukemia at the age of 11. My father transformed to a man for the underdog, fell in love with his pets, and poured his heart and soul into his Grandson’s life. This is his greatest legacy. He helped his family get through the pain of Derek’s death, though it devastated him to the core.
    There’s not a day that me or my sister have got out of bed and not thought of him. We are always asking ourselves what he would do in any situation we faced in our lives. He taught us enough to carry on, and prepared us for his eventual departure.
    Thank you Dad for being a great father, we will never forget you. Please help our mom and your wife of 55 years make it through this difficult time.

  8. What a dedicated and wonderful man . I will miss him and think kindly always of him. And send my love and prayers to the family that I love so much

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