Ida D. Hills
Aug 21, 1920 - Aug 26, 2012
Resident of Aptos
Ida Hills , 92, a former writer, author, teacher and homemaker, died peacefully at her Aptos home, with her daughter Wendy by her side on August 26, 2012.
She preceded in death by husband Wesley Hills and daughter-in-law Beverly Hills, Ida was survived by daughters: Lea Miller, Wendy Fisher and son Walter Hills; grandsons Charles Miller, Troy Shawn Fisher, Walter Hills, and Julio Ramos; granddaughters Audrey Miller and Ashley Ramos; great-granddaughter Lillian Ramos; and sister, Bo West. Ida will be greatly missed by her loving family, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great grand nieces and friends.
Born in Casper, Wyoming, Ida attained the rank of Eagle Girl Scout in 1936 awarded by Mrs Roosevelt and graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1941. Ida met her future husband Wesley Hills, while working for the Army Corp of Engineers. Wesley and Ida were married for 63 years; 23 of which were spent traveling with the Air Force. Ida was a life-long world traveler and writer. She wrote a garden column for the Santa Cruz Sentinel and authored many romance novels. One of her novels was also published in several foreign languages. She was a member of Romance Writers of America and mentored local writers. She distained the Word-Processor and wrote all her novels on a typewriter.
Ida moved to Aptos in 1969, and in the 1980's became an out-spoken writer, conservationist, environmentalist and advocate for preservation of the redwoods in and around the Santa Cruz area.
Ida was a member of Resurrection Catholic Church (Aptos), the local Sierra Club and for 35+ years was an avid bridge player at the Capitola Senior Center. Ida was also an avid San Francisco Giants baseball fan.
Graveside services will be held on Saturday Sept 1, 2012 at 3 PM at Oakwood Memorial Park 3301 Paul Sweet Road Santa Cruz. Donations preferred to Doctors Without Borders 333 7th Avenue 2nd floor NY, NY 10001-5004.
If you would like to offer condolences to Ida's family, share your memories and light a candle in her memory please visit www.scmemorial.com
Published in Santa Cruz Sentinel from August 30 to August 31, 2012
