Edgar Hill
February 1, 1924-Dec. 2, 2012
Our beloved Husband/ Father/ Grandfather died in his sleep early morning Dec. 2 after a long illness. Edgar was lucid and still had his sense of humor and flirtatious wit when his family said goodnight the night before.
He was 88 and lived all of his life in Big Valley, west of Finley, on the same ranch that his grandfather settled in about 1870.
He worked for Ralph Devoto at Lake County Title Company as a title examiner and escrow officer for 20 years before going into real estate for Lakeport Realty. He later became office manager for Baird Anton at Anton Insurance and continued there for Lincoln Leavitt until age 82.
Edgar was a lifelong member of the Lakeport Christian Church, now the United Christian Parish, and was a trustee on the board of directors and served as chair many times. He sang in the choir most of his life and led the congregation in many of his favorite hymns and prayers with much gusto.
He was a Mason for about 70 years and the Worshipful Master of Hartley Lodge twice. He received the Master Mason Certificate in 1948 and the Hiram Award in 1982. He was the officer's coach for many decades and conducted most of the Masonic funerals in Lake County until he became ill.
Edgar was a Lakeport Rotarian and had perfect attendance for over 50 years. During those weekly meetings he was always called on to lead the invocation and was their ever-inspiring song leader. He was their President twice. He was one of the club's earliest Paul Harris Fellows.
He and his first wife, Esther, were 4-H leaders for over 25 years.
When son Gary started playing football at Clear Lake High School in 1958, Edgar started working on the sidelines as one of the chain-gang and did so for thirty years, even while his grandson Darron Jones played.
Edgar was delivering Meals on Wheels well into his 80s. He never tired of helping those in need. He was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by Stars of Lake County in 2006.
His second family came after Esther died in 1986 when he married his choir director, Jean. Her children and grandchildren became his own and his love of family doubled.
Edgar is survived by his loving wife, Jean; daughter, Kathy (Ross) Jones; son, Gary (Pattie); step-daughter, Carolyn Walder; step-son, David (Tina) Thompson. He was a loving grandfather to Darron Jones, Allison Jung, David Hill, Candi Hill, Katie Fording, Sara Lennon, Jacob and Daniel Walder, Heather Thompson and Sarah Todd and great-grandfather to Dustin Jones, Aaron, Sarah and Rebekah Jung, Nicolas and Alexander Lennon, and Callie Todd.
Family requests any donations be made to the Lakeport Christian Parish and or Lake County Hospice Services.
A Celebration of Edgar's life will be held at the United Christian Parish, 745 North Brush St., Lakeport at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013.
Private interment will be at Hartley Cemetery.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary. For further information call Chapel of the Lakes at 707-263-0357 or 994-5611 or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .
