Peter "Pete" R Hills

With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Peter Roy Hills -- “Pete” -- at the age

of 84 in Comox, BC. The past few years he was a resident at The Views at St

Joseph’s in Comox, and passed away peacefully on 19 May, 2020.

Born in Montreal in 1936, he was the only son of Thelma and Roy Hills, and grew up in

St Laurent, Quebec. He got permission from his parents to join the Royal Canadian Air

Force at the age of 17. He met his love Margaret in Vancouver, BC, they married

there, and together they embraced the Air Force lifestyle.

Pete enrolled as a radar operator in the RCAF, and later remustered to the trade of

Mobile Support Equipment Operator. As a driver in the Air Force he drove every

piece of equipment they ever had during his many postings. Signing up in Saint

Hubert, he worked in Sept Iles, Resolute Bay, Vancouver, Calgary, Baden, Borden,

Bagotville, North Bay, Petawawa, and Comox and a tour in Alert.

Pete was always very proud of his service in uniform, all the learning and opportunities,

and especially the life long friends he made. Across his trade he drove 18 wheelers, ran

cranes and heavy equipment, kept the runways clear during the cold war, organized the

military ground transportation at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, did a posting with 427

Tactical Helicopter Squadron, dispatched, instructed, supervised, and finished up on the

safety side of things. When the CF-5 fighters came to Bagotville, they were in crates to

be assembled on base. Pete unloaded the first one off the truck with a crane, and

claimed bragging rights that he “got the first CF-5 airborne in Bagotville”. He left the Air

Force in 1989 in Comox to become the town locksmith. Everyone in the Comox Valley

knew the white and blue Pete’s Lockshop truck as Pete’s gregarious nature shone

through and he made many many friends.

Pete was many things over years — father, grandfather, trucker, heavy equipment

operator, scuba diver, guitar player, lifeguard, hockey coach, curler, pool player,

golfer, fisherman, traveller ... but was at ease with all of them with his sharp wit and

easy smile. After all the moving around, Pete really found his home and his groove

in the Comox Valley. He kept up his many friendships by staying active with the Air

Force Association and the Legion. His three children all moved to Vancouver Island

and he was able to stay close to them and his five grandchildren.

Predeceased by Margaret in 2002, Pete is survived by his three children Cathy (and

David) Glover, Comox, BC; Kevin (and Paula) Hills, Nanaimo, BC; and Debbie (and

Stephen) Kuhn, Nanoose Bay, BC, plus five grandchildren Jon, Jesse, Maggie, Cooper,

and Deacon.

A huge heartfelt thank you to Dr Hunter and all of the staff at the Views in Comox for

their care, compassion, dignity, and love with Pete and his family. Their job was

even more challenging these past few months, and there was nothing but kindness

and grace. Thank you.

A small family gathering and interment will be planned for Pete to join Margaret in

Courtenay, BC at the Civic Cemetery. A Celebration of Life and Poppy Service will

be planned when able at the 888 Komox Air Force Association Wing in Comox.

Pete was always ready to help someone out with a favour or a kindness — in lieu

of flowers or donations please take a moment to do an act of generosity for a

friend or stranger and say “this is from Pete!”.