Robert J. Hill

Robert Jay “B J” Hill was born October 23, 1948 in Hominy, Oklahoma. He was delivered into this world by Doctor M. L. Saddoris who had to be called in because he was in the parking lot listening to University of Oklahoma Sooner football game on the radio. B J was the eldest of two children of Jay L. and Mary Frances (Ditto) Hill. He was raised in Cleveland attending all twelve years of school here, graduating from Cleveland High School in 1966. As a youth, B J was extremely active in scouting in both the Cub Scouts and the Boy Scouts.

Shortly after graduation, B J was initiated into the Pipeliners Local Union #798 on July 7, 1966 and has been a member of the local for fifty years. B J worked summers on the pipeline wherever he was needed as a welder’s helper. He then attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami for two years; making the President’s Honor Roll on one occasion. He was inducted into the service of his country on May 23, 1969 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Upon completion of basic training, B J attended radiographic procedure (X-Ray technician school) at Fort Sam Houston in Texas and was then assigned to a Medical Company, William Beaumont General Hospital in El Paso, Texas. On October 14, 1970, B J was medically retired receiving a 30% disability rating which was later increased to 100%. During his honorable service, he received the National Defense Service Medal and the Expert Marksman Award for the M-14.

Upon completion of his military service, B J attended Northeastern State University in Tahlequah where in graduated in May of 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. He was awarded a $500 scholarship from Pipeliners Local #798 in March of 1977.

He was then employed as Assistant Coordinator of the Office of Veterans Affairs at Oklahoma State University from April 1978 until October 1978. At that time, he was employed by the Oklahoma Job Service as a DVOP coordinator. (Disabled Veterans Outreach Program) In 1979, he was promoted to Assistant Veterans Affairs Employment Representative. During this time he was selected for and completed “Model for Management” training course in 1980. In June of 1980, B J accepted a position with the United States Postal Service as a distribution clerk until 1987 when he was medically retired. He was awarded a “Special Achievement Award” by the postal service in 1983.

His other service and accomplishments included being a member of the Cleveland American Legion Post #003 and was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter #70 in Stillwater. He served two terms as Vice Commander of the Chapter as well as six consecutive terms as Commander from 1981 through 1986. Additionally, B J served as a member of the board of trustees of the American Postal Workers Union #3973 for four years. He was a lifetime member of the First Christian Church in Cleveland and a paid up for life member of the National Rifle Association. He also served as an assistant coach for twelve year old boy’s baseball team one summer. He was also considered the official spokesperson and coordinator for all Cleveland High School Class of 1966 activities; hosting numerous reunions and events throughout the past fifty years.

B J passed from this life on Monday May 23, 2016 at the Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa at the age of sixty-seven. He was preceded in death by his parents. B J is survived by his brother and his wife, Richard and Carri Hill of Norman, Oklahoma; two nieces, Angela Dawn Stach of Cleveland, Oklahoma and Rebecca L. Hill of Douglassville, Pennsylvania; a nephew, Ryan Lucas Hill of Douglasville, Pennsylvania; a great niece Destini Hill of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and a great nephew Gunner.

His wishes were to be cremated and interred next to his parents at Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland. A celebration of life service will be held at the Woodland Cemetery Chapel on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 with David Logsdon officiating. Cremation was entrusted to Chapman-Black Funeral Home.

Family suggests memorials to Cleveland Portable Meals or donating a book to the Jay C. Byers Memorial Library in Bobby Jay Hill’s memory.