Joan Marie Hill

Born on December 19, 1925 to Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Sandidge, Joan grew up in Guthrie, OK, graduating from Guthrie High School. She received a B.A. from Oklahoma State University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta women’s fraternity. After graduation, Joan worked for Phillips Petroleum Company in Oklahoma City. She married Samuel Rowe Hill in 1950 and devoted the rest of her life to building a family and serving her church and community with generosity and grace. Joan spent most of her adult life in Little Rock and was a founding member of St. James United Methodist Church. She was a lifetime member of the Board of Trustees there and active in the Agape Sunday School class and the women’s Joy Circle. In her later years, Joan moved to Austin, TX to be near her daughter, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She delighted in her family and friends, and all who knew her will attest that a more gracious, joyful, selfless lady cannot be found.

Joan is survived by her daughter Cindy Hawks and husband Tim of Austin, TX; grandchildren Kate Hawks, Ben Hawks and wife Nieka, Ellen Hawks, Sam Hawks, “bonus” granddaughter Lady Jones and husband Matt; great grandchildren June Hawks, Flora Hawks, Caroline Jones, and Warren Jones, all of Austin, TX; and son-in-law Tony Paolitto and wife Kendra of Clinton, Connecticut.

Joan is preceded in death by her husband of 54 years S. Rowe Hill, her daughter Susan Hill Paolitto, her son Gary Rowe Hill, her sisters Dolly Luker and Peggy Price, her sister-in-law Rowena Hill Ivy, and many dear friends over her lifetime.

Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 7 in the north auditorium of Hill Country Bible Church Austin, 12124 RR 620 North, Austin, TX. 78750, with her son-in-law Pastor Tim Hawks officiating. Friends may also join our service online at https://tinyurl.com/joanmariehill. A graveside service will be held at Forest Hills Memorial Park outside of Little Rock on Saturday, April 23 at 10:30 a.m.

Memorials may be made to the Endowment Fund, St James United Methodist Church of Little Rock, www.stjameslr.org, or to Hill Country Bible Church Austin, www.hcbc.com.