R. Ellis Hill, accomplished engineer, WW II veteran, beloved father and grandfather, passed away December 8th, 2016 in Dallas, Texas at the age of 92. Born in Oneida, Tennessee and raised in Corbin, Kentucky, Ellis joined the Army Corps of Engineers in 1943 before he graduated from the University of Kentucky’s electrical engineering program. After helping our troops cross France, laying fuel lines and railroad track, he returned to complete his degree and marry Barbara Elizabeth Dyche (Betty), also of Corbin, the first female engineering graduate of UK.
Ellis worked briefly for Phillips Petroleum in Oklahoma, but came back to Appalachia where he and Betty both found jobs with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. After a 36-year career there, he retired as head of the Instrumentation/Controls group supporting fusion experiments. They raised a family in nearby Clinton, TN where he enjoyed playing bridge, farming two acres of vegetables most years, and boating on Norris Lake- first in his home-made plywood cruiser Bobbin and then in his 1963 McCulloch Flying Dutchman, which still looks and runs just like new.
Mr. Hill is pre-deceased by wife Betty, brothers Glenn and Herschel, and sister Kathleen. He is survived by son Dr. Steven E. Hill and wife Ann of Dallas, daughter Barbara J. Thornton, AIA and husband Peter of Providence, RI and granddaughters Kristin, Tamara and Brittany.
A family service with military honors will be held at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas at the end of December. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Ellis’ memory to either the National Hospice Foundation “We Honor Veterans” partnership at www.nationalhospicefoundation.org, or the “My People Fund” to benefit Gatlinburg, TN wildfire victims at www.Dollywoodfoundation.org.
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