Harry passed away peacefully at Whispering Pines Care Facility, surrounded by family and friends. He was born in Hollister, to Harry and Gertrude Ferguson Hill, in the old Hazel Hawkins Hospital located on Monterey Street.
Harry grew up and graduated from the local grammar and high schools before attending
Heald College in San Francisco. In 1940, Harry married his high school sweetheart Gina Falconi. In 1941, when the war broke out, he enlisted in the Air Force.
While in the Air Force, he received training at Lowry Air Force Technical Training Center, Denver, Colorado; Chanute Air Force Technical Training Center, Rantoul, Illinois; Air Force Officer Candidate School, Miami Beach, Florida; Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama, and the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. Harry advanced through the ranks during his military service and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on September 1, 1967.
His 26 years of military service took him through, World War II, Korea, and the Vietnam wars. Harry saw service in the United States, Far East, Middle East, Africa, and Europe. He was the recipient of numerous military decorations and awards, including the Bronze Star Medal.
When Harry retired from the military, he was not a man to sit idle. He returned to his hometown of Hollister and worked for eight years in the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office. When Harry retired from the Sheriff’s Office, he was the recipient of numerous letters and certificates of appreciation from local, county, and state agencies.
In 1937, Harry became a member of the Masonic Order at the behest of his mother. He joined Occidental Lodge #22, San Francisco and upon his military retirement transferred to San Benito Lodge #211.
He held life memberships in Post #9242, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion Post #69, the Military Officers Association of America, and National Association of The Uniformed Services. Harry was a member of the Air Force Association, Humane Society of the United States, the San Francisco Zoological Society, Nan Pipestem Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Sons In Retirement, and E Clampus Vitus.
Harry’s interests included, amateur radio. He was licensed through the American Radio Relay League in 1957, and he assisted with the licensing of his son Harry and daughter-in law Kathy.
He enjoyed gardening, camping, traveling the Western United States in a recreational vehicle, and had long time interests in computer technology.
Harry is survived by his spouse, Juana “Jennie” Hill of Hollister and his children, Harry A. Hill, III (Kathleen), Shelley Geisler (Herbert), Janet Masoni (Richard), and Curtis Hill (Ellen), all of Hollister. His grandchildren include Damian Hill, Jennifer Nolen (Jonathan), Adrian Masoni, Vanessa Roybal (Louie), Kevin Hill, and one Great-grandchild, Kinan Roybal. Step children, Robert Mendez and Susan Poli (Stephen) and step grandchildren, James Poli (Jennifer), Gina Poli, Jennifer Poli, & Robert Mendez, Jr. along with three step great-grandchildren.
Gina Marie Hill predeceased Harry in 1979.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, January 19, from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Grunnagle –Ament-Nelson funeral home. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, January 20, at 10:00 a.m. at the chapel of Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home. Interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery. Donations, in care of the mortuary, are preferred to any of the following: Visiting Nurses Association, Nan Pipestem Wildlife Rehabilitation Center or Pet Friends.
Visit: www.grunnagle.com
