Obituary of Richard Dean Hill

Richard “Dick” Dean Hill went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 11, 2025 after a long and prosperous life.

 Richard was born on May 15, 1932, to Perle and Effie Hill in Kearney, Nebraska.  He was a 1950 graduate of Fullerton High School, in Fullerton, Nebraska.  He loved to tell stories of his days as a truck driver for Fullerton Trucking during his high school years.  In September of 1950, Dick enlisted in the US Air Force and was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, FL, assigned to the 3201st aircraft repair squadron. He was most proud of being a part of the aircraft and munitions “proof test” projects in which he was involved. He met his bride of 57 years, Dorothy Rogers Hill, at a USO dance in downtown Ft. Walton Beach and they were married in September,1955. After separation from the Air Force, he worked in HVAC as a sheet metal mechanic.  He was known for his sheet metal fabrications for many contractors and businesses while working with Mac’s Sheet Metal Shop, John Smith Carrier Air Conditioning, and eventually at McDonald Plumbing as the shop foreman throughout the 1970’s.  He made the first rim for the “big drum” for Choctawhatchee High School which was used at football games for many years.  He was involved in the construction of the University of West Florida in the 1960’s, the main branch of Eglin Federal Credit Union, and Okaloosa Vo-Tech School, now known as Okaloosa Technical College, in the mid 1970’s.  In the late 70’s, Dick also developed and taught the apprenticeship program for sheet metal fabrication (which included duct work) and HVAC at Okaloosa Walton Jr College, now known as Northwest Florida State College.  He moved to Ft. Worth, Texas in 1979 to work for Broyles and Broyles Mechanical Contractors. After a few years, he opened his own contractor’s office specializing in HVAC design, installation and repair, as well as sheet metal fabrication. He also began building insulated concrete form (ICF) houses in the Dallas-Ft Worth metroplex. He retired from construction and contracting in 2014.  He returned in February to Ft. Walton Beach to be near his daughter and family.

Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Rogers Hill (2012); daughters, Julie Marshall (2014) and Lori Balderston (2021); his parents; and brothers, Norman Hill and Robert Hill.  He is survived by his daughter, Beth Craig and son-in-law, Brian Craig of Ft. Walton Beach, FL; son-in-law, Tim Marshall (Kari) of Savanna, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Steven Craig of Plano, TX, Michael Craig (Lauren) of Carrollton, TX, Jill (Patrick) Watford of Ft. Walton Beach, FL, Zachary Snyder (Nikki) of Mansfield, TX, and Briana (Logan) Ellis of Springtown, TX;  great grandchildren, Jordan Craig, Hailey Watford, Hannah Watford, Caleb Watford, Owen Watford and Wren Ellis; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bud and Jean Rogers of Pensacola; numerous nieces and nephews; and sisters, Lavonne Noetzelmann and Jacqueline Bennett.

A memorial service will be held at Family-Funeral & Cremation, 101 Mary Esther Blvd., Mary Esther, FL,32569, Friday, February 7, 2025 at 1 p.m. with Pastor Janice Bausch officiating.

Donations may be made to St. Laurence Anglican Church building fund, 519 Kimball Ave, Southlake, TX 76092, or to your favorite charity.  




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