Robert Bruce Hill

Mr. Hill was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Mary Nell Hill; parents, Walter and Marguerite Hill; and brother, James Hill. He is survived by sons, Larry Hill (Gayle) and Robert Hill (Kathi); grandchildren, Daniel (Kay), Laura (Andre), John Robert (Meaghan), and Julia; and great, grandchildren Daniel II, Champ, Mac, Asher, and Logan.

Bruce spent his childhood years in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His father’s occupation as a journeyman machinist caused the family to move often. At various times he lived in Chicago, Detroit, New Orleans, and Memphis. He was dedicated at Moody Bible Church as a child. He spent time visiting beautiful parks and the Great Lakes and running the streets of Chicago and sledding in the snow with his brother.

When Bruce was 14, the family moved from Chicago to Seminary, Mississippi where his father purchased over 200 acres on the Bouie River. Bruce, his brother Jim, and his dad built a house and barn by hand. They felled trees making fence posts and fenced the whole property. They lived there for several years with no electricity because the lines could not be run due to shortages caused during WWII. They raised crops and cattle and boarded horses for neighbors. They had an Indian motorcycle with a side car they brought from Chicago, and Bruce and Jim would drive it down the crop rows harvesting corn and cotton into the side car. Bruce said he and his brother Jim rode every horse they ever kept without

a saddle or bridle. They’d grab the horse’s mane and hoist themselves up and off they’d go, bounding over stumps and holes toward the river. Shortly before moving to Mississippi, Bruce had been working at one of Chicago’s finest hotels as a bellhop. He said the move to the farm was a big culture change but he and this brother loved it.

At 18, Bruce proudly joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed aboard the USS Jason. He was looking forward to an adventure of a new kind. His military career was cut short however when his mother developed breast cancer and he took a hardship deferral to return home and care for her.

Shortly after their marriage, Bruce and Mary moved to Mobile where he worked for over 40 years at Courtaulds, Ciba-Geigy, Shell Chemical, and Dupont. People who worked with Bruce always commented on what a fine and upstanding person he was! "One of the nicest people I have ever known” is a common response. Bruce began running in his 50's and kept it up into his late 80's. He ran hundreds of 5ks and 10ks and six marathons including the Hawaiian Marathon which he ran twice. He came in first in his age group many times. Bruce's other favorite hobby was wood carving. He carved the current and former pastors of Dauphin Way Baptist Church, sports figures and many others, spending

countless hours in his shop.

Bruce and Mary were very active members of Dauphin Way Baptist Church where he was a deacon and Sunday School director. After retirement, Bruce helped out in various ways, whether it was driving a bus, visiting nursing homes, planting trees, or doing grounds upkeep around the church. Bruce was known to his friends as a very kind and helpful person. To his family he was Pawpaw. He loved to laugh, tell jokes, and tease the grandchildren. We never parted company without Pawpaw chasing the grandchildren around the car to tag them with his famous, “Gotcha Last”. He loved mixed nuts, good books, dogs, and he especially loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was an attentive listener and had a way of making each one feel loved and special. He will be deeply missed by all of us.

Funeral services will be held from the chapel of Radney Funeral Home on Dauphin Street on Thursday, February 24, 2022, at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1 p.m. until the service hour. Interment will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com.