Clarence Oliver Hill, 83, of Fullerton, died on July 14, 2014. He died of a heart attack and battled with Alzheimers for the last few years. Clarence was born on March 5, 1931 in East Gulf, West Virginia to the late Cleophus Oliver Hill and Ellen Elmira Walker Hill. He graduated from West Virginia State and earned a Masters Degree in Aerospace Operations Management from the University of Southern California. Clarence joined the Army and specialized in artillery, air defense, intelligence, and nuclear weapons. The highlights of his Army career included tours in Korea, the Vietnam War, various staff officer positions in Germany, the Armed Forces Staff College, and command of a U.S. Army artillery group in Greece. He met his bride, Gloria, while stationed in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan and they were married on July 30, 1961. Clarence and his growing family moved 30 times in 14 years including stops in Fort Huachuca, Arizona; Novato, CA; Wiesbaden, Stuttgart, and Heidelberg, Germany; and Athens, Greece to name a few. He retired from the Army in 1974 as a lieutenant colonel after serving as the military aide to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Atomic Energy at the Pentagon. Clarence had a distinguished military career and his personal commendations include; the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, 2 Air Medals one with valor, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster. Clarence and the family settled in Fullerton in 1974. He worked for Rockwell International for 20 years, working on noteworthy programs like the space shuttle and the global positioning satellite. Clarence was also very active at First Presbyterian Church Fullerton serving as an elder, a deacon, and on many committees. Additionally, he served on the Fullerton Museum Board, the Fullerton Public Library Board, the Affordable Housing Committee, and the Fullerton School District Personnel Commission. He enjoyed going on cruises with Gloria; Russia, Hawaii, Alaska, China, Australia, and South America are some of the places around which they cruised. It was easy to find Clarence on Saturday afternoons in the fall, he had season tickets to USC football games for over 35 years! He enjoyed gardening, especially tending his plumeria plants that he got during his many visits to Hawaii. He also enjoyed the occasional round of golf and loved reruns of the original Star Trek television series. Clarence is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Gloria; his daughters, Carolyn and Denise; his son Clayton; his sons-in-law, James Blocker and Joe White; and his 5 grandchildren, Thomas, William, and Anna Blocker, and Gloria and Ellen White. Clarence is also survived by siblings Elinor, Jacqulyn, and James and a large extended family. Clarence was a much loved man and will be missed. Memorial service will be held at 11am on July 25, 2014 at First Presbyterian Church Fullerton, 838 N. Euclid Ave, Fullerton, CA with a reception to follow at the church grounds. If you care to make a donation to the Alzheimers Association in Clarences name please do so through McAulay and Wallace Mortuary, Fullerton at (714) 525-4721.
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