Charles Hill

Charles Lee Hill embarked on the next chapter of his spiritual journey on December 20, 2017. He was born in Canton, Georgia on July 14, 1934 and served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He earned his B.A. in English from the University of California, Sacramento and his teaching credentials from the University of California, Davis. He moved with his family to Texas in the late 1960s and later earned an M.S. in Hospital Administration at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.

Beyond his professional and personal accomplishments, Dad (known as “Papa” to his grandchildren) was a witty, imaginative and deeply contemplative man. His spiritual awakening began on August 14, 1982—two days after attending his first 12 step meeting. A year later, he and eight other members formed a group based on the book The Fourth Way by G.I. Gurdjieff. This work became a driving spiritual force throughout his life. When the group disbanded in the late 1980s, Dad became involved in the practice of Lakota rituals—a natural extension of his decades long passion for Native American art, history and culture. In the mid-1990s, he returned to his Christian roots, though he remembered his former spiritual communities with great love and fondness.

Dad designed his own house on fifteen acres outside Elgin, Texas where he moved in 1991. He took great comfort in the peace and tranquility of the country. Throughout his years both raising a family in Austin and later retiring in Elgin, he expressed himself through pottery, poetry, paintings, woodworking, playing Native American flute and gardening. He loved to make things. And he loved to make things grow. Dad also held a deep love of words. A former English teacher, he particularly cherished novels and poetry by American writers. He drew much inspiration from the works of William Carlos Williams, Robert Frost, E.E. Cummings, T.S. Eliot and many others. Dad wrote Regeneration: Poems by Charles L. Hill—an expanded edition of his first book, Generations. The poems strived to capture lightning moments when Dad was available to divine inspiration.

He traveled extensively throughout his life, holding particular love for New Mexico, South Dakota and parts of Europe—especially France where he once lived and taught. In his early 70s, he bought a Harley Davidson motorcycle and reveled in riding it through the gorgeous back roads of Texas. Throughout his life, Dad was devoted to his canine companions-- particularly Bing, his faithful Golden Retriever.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Ana Maria Hill, his father, Garnett Hill, his mother, Luzera Hill, his sister, Martha "Blanche" Brown, and his brother, Glenn Hill. He is survived by his daughters, Marisa Tejeda, Andrea Hill, and Jennifer Hill Robenalt; his sons-in-law, Francisco Tejeda and Bruce "Fritz" Robenalt; and his grandchildren, Jack, Daniela, Angelica, Antonio, Anabella, Anastasia, and Benjamin.

Dad was very much loved and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

A memorial will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 13 at Cook Walden Funeral Home located at 6100 N. Lamar Blvd. in Austin, Texas.

Condolences be made to www.Cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.