Wayne George Hill

● Wayne George Hill was born on December 25, 1934, to John Emmitt and Virginia Hill in Columbus, Ohio. He was the youngest of 6 children. Growing up in Columbus in the 1930’s and 40’s had its challenges. It was post Great Depression, pre and post WWII, and living in a small Black community facing racism and discrimination was the norm. When Wayne lost his dad at age 12, he and Grandma Hill had to do it alone – his siblings were older and independent. Wayne and Grandma made it work. He was always a joyful young boy; he had a new bike, a dog that he loved and a nephew, Poochie, that he hung out with. Boy, did they get into lots of mischief. Once, they ventured off to the train tracks and were almost crushed by the moving active locomotives.

● Wayne was always steadfast and loyal. While attending and graduating from Central High School, he worked evenings helping Grandma Hill work the bakeries. Upon graduation, Wayne began working at North American Aviation. Whenever he asked if there were any openings anywhere else, the answer was always “no.” When Wayne, Grandma Hill and his brother Charles decided to sell the farm, they packed up everything and drove to Los Angeles, California in his new Oldsmobile Rocket 88. The year was 1955. Having only been in Los Angeles for less than 2 weeks, Wayne saw a North American Aviation facility, entered and asked if they were hiring. “Yes, we are, you’re hired!”

● In 1955, Wayne met the love of his life, Rachel Natalia Guzman, at Pacoima Park. They married in 1956 and had five beautiful children, Natalie, Jonathan, Helayne, Barachel, and Doxiades. Wayne and Rachel always encouraged and expected success for their children and all of their children have achieved it.

● Wayne worked at the Los Angeles North America Aviation location where he excelled and was promoted to the Rocketdyne Facility in Canoga Park, California. There, he worked and helped build Saturn V Rockets for the NASA Apollo Moon Missions.

● Wayne was always an extremely hard-working man and loving father and husband. He often worked two jobs while his children were young. He later took a position with Allstate and was promoted up the ranks as the 1st Black Adjuster in his many promotions. He later transferred to California Casualty and Trans America.

● Wayne was mentor to hundreds of young black men in Pacoima and Bakersfield, an encourager to everyone he met, and a loyal friend. He was not only a Little League Coach (1965-1969) for the Senators at Pacoima Park, but also a boys YMCA coach for The Fighters. He could always be found at his children’s school and sport events.

● It can be said that Wayne’s ultimate and greatest success was his love and passion for the Lord, his wife Rachel, his children and his children’s children, his extended family, and his community. Wayne was a Member of Kern Christian Center for over 30 years.

● Wayne always knew that God would bless him, and he was surely blessed. To his last breath, on March 14, 2023, Wayne served his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and is now in glory with the saints before him. Hallelujah and Amen