Jack Hill

Hill, Jack G., 92, of Richmond- formerly from Colonial Heights, Virginia, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2013 surrounded by his loving family. Born in Abbeville, South Carolina on August 30, 1920, Jack was the son of the late Porter and Louise Hill. After graduating from high school in Greenwood, South Carolina he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1937 and was assigned to the HQ 8th AF during World War II where he flew bombing missions over Germany and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Returning stateside in 1944, he was assigned to Langley AFB Virginia where he met Julie Balish who was the love of his life. They married in 1945 and enjoyed 62 years together until her death in 2008. A career military man, Jack had assignments in Hawaii, New York, Germany and Virginia retiring from the Air Force while assigned at Fort Lee, Virginia in September 1970. He was among the first members of the Air Force to be promoted to Chief Master Sergeant -- the highest enlisted rank one can attain. In addition to being a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather, Jack was an avid golfer and a long-time member of the American Legion Post 284. He is survived by his 3 sons, Doug from Marblehead, Massachusetts, Richard and his wife Betty, and Jeff and his wife Anne from Richmond. He was preceded in death by his daughter Judy French. He has 4 grandchildren, Sarah and Nathanial French of Winchester, Massachusetts and Connor and Julianna Hill of Richmond, as well as 5 step-grandchildren, David Weber and his wife, Lyn - parents of Jillian, Jack's only great step-grandchild, Brian Weber, Will, Peter and Nick Humble. He is also survived by his brother, Tom from Greenwood, South Carolina and son-in-law, Jon French of Winchester, Massachusetts. A service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 1, 2013 in the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 2033 Boulevard with the Reverend Richard Geoghegan officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Park, Chester. The family will receive friends from 12 to 1:00 p.m. Friday prior to the service. In lieu of flowers and in the spirit of Jack's service to his country, please make contributions to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.