Joseph R Gill

Joseph Russell Gill (Joe) of Charlotte died Tuesday evening, March 10, 2015 at Asbury Care Center. He was 91 years old. Joe was born March 9, 1924 at Mercy Hospital in Charlotte. He was the third of four sons born to Nicholas Howard Gill and Hattie Lee Woods Gill. Like all the Gill boys, he attended Elizabeth Elementary, A. G. Junior High and Central High. Immediately upon graduation from Central in 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. His skill as a pilot became clear and he flew six different airplanes during his career, including the classics P-39, P-40 and P-51. Although fully trained as a fighter pilot, he volunteered for reconnaissance training so he could fly the P-51. In late 1944, he transferred to Europe where he flew 82 combat reconnaissance missions over Belgium, France, and Germany in his beloved P-51 “Little Rebel”. While the German Air Force was no longer a factor, he was the frequent target of ground fire. He was awarded the Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters and the EAME medal with 4 bronze stars. At war’s end he returned to Charlotte and married the love of his life, Elizabeth Lou Lomax. They were married Dec. 15, 1945, at the old Bible Presbyterian Church on E. Fourth St. by Dr. Edgar Dillard. Taking advantage of the GI Bill, he and Betty moved to Raleigh and Joe enrolled at N. C. State. A daughter, Elizabeth Diane, was born in 1948. Upon graduation in 1949 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, he and his family moved to Virginia where he worked one year at Newport News Drydock and Ship Building Company. In 1950, they returned to Charlotte where Joe was employed at Terrell Machine Company. Later, a son, Eric joined the family. Joe rose to Production Control Manager and retired from Terrell in 1989. Joe was the consummate engineer, looking after everything in great detail, sometimes to the irritation of those around him. He was raised in Caldwell Memorial Presbyterian Church and was a member of Sharon Presbyterian Church at the time of his death. In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; brothers, Howard and Bill; half-sisters June and Natalie and 3 half-brothers. He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Diane; son, Eric; daughter-in-law, Teri; granddaughters, Sarah and Casey; brother, Herbert and several nieces and nephews. A graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday March 14 at Sharon Memorial Park conducted by Dr. Robert Blumer of Sharon Presbyterian Church. Memorials may be made to Sharon Presbyterian Church, 5201 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC, 29210 or Carolinas Aviation Museum, 4672 First Flight Drive, Charlotte, NC, 28208.

McEwen Pineville Chapel is assisting the family.