Karl Bentley Hill Jr.

Karl Bentley Hill, Jr. was born February 11, 1941 in Shanghai, China to Karl B. Hill, Sr. and Marie Hulser Hill. Bentley's father was the President of Occidental Life Insurance in the Far East. When the Japanese invaded China, the infant Bentley and his family moved back to Newport Beach, California. They returned to Shanghai, but left again when the Red Chinese came to power in China. The family moved to the Philippines, where Bentley was raised until age 9. Bentley moved to LaJolla, California where he began playing tennis at the LaJolla Beach and Tennis Club. Bentley was nationally ranked as a tennis player and as an adult became the Armed Forces Champion. He continued to play tennis for the United States Army around the world. Mr. Hill graduated from the University of Arizona where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta and received a Masters Degree from Command General Staff College. In 1967 Lt. Colonel Hill was instrumental in forming the 192nd Assault Helicopter Company in Ft. Riley, KS. After training his company he moved with them to Vietnam. In 1972, on his second tour in Vietnam, Bentley was a Platoon Leader of the famed "Pink Panthers", where he piloted the Cobra gunship. A few months later, Colonel Hill was chosen Commander of the top secret Air Tow Rocket Detachment, the most sophisticated missile the U. S. Army had at that time. Bentley later served in NATO headquarters in Europe and as Aide de Camp to General Flanagan. He retired from the Army and moved to Colorado Springs in 1982 where he became a commercial real estate broker. He spent wonderful days playing tennis and golf at the Country Club of Colorado and in tournaments around the western U. S. The last years have been full of travel with his wife, Ellen, to Asia, South America, Antarctica and Alaska. Bentley is survived by the wife he so dearly loved, Ellen Casey Hill. He is also survived by a son, Karl Bentley Hill III (Heidi), grandchildren, Karl Bentley Hill IV and Honah Leigh Hill, and his much loved step-daughter, Elizabeth Tippett Casey. Contributions can be made to CASA of Colorado Springs or to the charity of your choice. A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 17th at 1:00 p.m. at Broadmoor Community Church.