Edward H. Hill, Jr. "Pete"

Edward Haskins Hill, Jr. 93, died on Monday, September 17, 2012 at home surrounded by his loving family. “Pete”, as he was fondly called by all who knew him, was born in Los Angeles, CA on November 29, 1918. Upon completing high school, he enlisted in the Army Signal Corp and was stationed in New Jersey where he met the love of his life, Almira Shorrock, his wife of seventy years.

Pete then served in the Air Force for twenty-six years. During World War II, he served in the Philippines. He retired as a Lt. Col. in July of 1967 and moved to Austin, TX where he and Mira have lived for the last forty-five years. He worked for the City of Austin in the office of Civil Defense and the Tax Appraisal Office before retiring from the City. A proud World War II Veteran, Pete will be remembered for his generosity to the many non-profit organizations which he fondly supported.

His love for aviation began as a young man when he was an amateur photographer taking pictures of early aviation in southern California. In later life he enjoyed hot air ballooning with daughter Mira Lee and husband Wayne. For his 80th birthday the family surprised him with a glider flight, fulfilling a longtime dream!

His childhood and high school buddy Sandy Belond introduced him to racecars and eventually took him as a crewmember to the Indianapolis 500 in 1953. For his 75th birthday, the family sent Pete with son Kenny back to the Indy for a trip down memory lane. Gun collecting and hunting were Pete’s additional hobbies as evidenced by the many racks of horns and guns hung proudly in his room.

The nemesis of his life was the houseboat he purchased on Lake Travis in the late seventies for family fun with their ski boats. Pete hung a sign in the boat that read, “A boat is a hole the water into which one pours one’s money” as he was constantly patching and mending and repairing to keep it afloat! Family and friends have many fond memories of Lake Travis houseboat days.

Avid bowlers, Pete and Mira have bowled on leagues at Westgate Lanes for over thirty years. Bowling nine to twelve games a week up until a few months ago kept Pete active and socially engaged with the many longtime senior citizens who bowled with him.

With a passion for travel, Pete and Mira have enjoyed many, many trips across our country and the world. USA and world maps in their home proudly herald the many locations of their travels.

Edward is survived by his loving wife and caretaker, Mira Hill; Mira Lee Shelton and husband Wayne of Albuquerque, NM; Barbara Huffman of Austin, and Kenny Hill of Austin. Five grandchildren, Leslie Shelton of Portland, OR; Valerie Shelton of Seattle, WA; Shane Huffman and wife Kerry, of Midlothian, TX, and Heather Huffman of Austin, TX. and Andrew Hill of Denver, CO.; Great-grandchildren Kaelan and Branton Huffman of Midlothian, TX.