B. Paul Hillman
B. Paul (Squire) Hillman, 90, who passed away on Wednesday morning, November 19, was a longtime resident of the West Jackson community near Richwood.
He was born on a cold night on December 17, 1923 in a mining camp near Bluefield, West Virginia. A pitcher of water froze in the bedroom where he was born. He was of English, Scots-Irish, and Cherokee descent and a distant relative of President Andrew Jackson.
He grew up in the Millseat area of Ashland, Kentucky, but his family was originally from southwest Virginia. His ancestors helped settle the United States, and some were longhunters who traveled with Daniel Boone. Others served in the French-Indian, the Revolutionary, and Civil wars. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was stationed at Mare Island Naval Base in Vallejo, California, and later at a Navy facility in the Philippines.
His great grandfather was a minister as well as his father. Paul graduated from what is now Clear Creek Baptist Bible College in Pineville, Kentucky in 1958, and preached on occasion and was a Sunday school teacher for many years. He was an electrician, a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, and worked for 35 years for Triple Service in Marion.
He was a faithful, kind, humble, hard-working, godly, loving man. A truly good man. He was devoted to his wife, Fern, for over 72 years and had a deep love for all of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He had a wry sense of humor, a calm confidence, intelligent eyes, and a fondness for Lawrence Welk, fishing, and cherry pie.
He was preceded in death by his parents Bascom Paul and Tempa Alice Hillman, and two brothers and five sisters. He is survived by his sister Peggy Vermillion, Oak Ridge, Tennessee; his four children, Paul Michael (Olivia) Hillman, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Diana (Ron) Martin, Richwood; Dennis Ray (Pamela) Hillman, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Betty Shaunene (Jim) Van Buren, Grand Rapids, Michigan; his fourteen grandchildren, Nathan Hillman, Rachel Shafran, Sara (Hamdy) Kassem, Danae (Jamie) Marquis, Danielle (Billy) Hoff, Danara (Zach) Moore, Elizabeth (Andrew) Beatty, Jessie (Rachel) Hillman, Andrew (Shannon) Hillman, Elizabeth (Doug) Blocksma, Matthew Hillman, Joanna Hillman, Chris (Ayten) Van Buren, April Van Buren; and his ten great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at 12:00 noon at the Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home, Richwood, where friends may call two hours prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow in Price Cemetery. Sons Paul Michael Hillman and Dennis Hillman will officiate. Military honors will be conducted by the Richwood Area Veterans.
Memorial gifts may be given to the Paul Hillman Scholarship in care of North Union High School, 401 N. Franklin St., Richwood, Ohio 43344.
Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.stofcheck-ballinger.com
Stofcheck-Ballinger Funeral Home