Otho Dale Hill

Otho Dale Hill

November 20, 1934 – August 11, 2025

(Buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, San Jose, CA)

A resident of Las Vegas, Dale passed away peacefully at Infinity Hospice Center in Las Vegas after a long, courageous battle with kidney failure. He was 90 years old. He has now joined his beloved parents, Lois Garland and John Wayne Hill; his two sisters, Notha Shea and Gnesa; and his older brothers, John Wayne, Rex Vaile, and Neal Dee in the hereafter.

He is survived by his half-sister, Amantha; his son, David Skinner; and his stepdaughter, Sylvie Varrene. He is also survived by his loving nieces and nephews, their children, and their children's children-generations who carry forward his legacy.

Born in Malvern, Arkansas, Dale moved with his family at a young age to Mountain View, California, where he attended grammar school and later graduated in 1952 from Campbell Union High School. As a teenager, he joined the Rifle Club and became an accomplished marksman, earning several badges-including NRA Junior Division Pro Marksman, Junior Sharpshooter Division, and Distinguished NRA Rifleman-among many others.

In 1953, shortly after graduating high school, Dale enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and proudly served on active duty until 1955. He was honorably discharged in 1961. During his service, he was awarded the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. After his military service, Dale attended San Jose State University, where he studied business.

Following his studies, Dale took a chance and moved to Las Vegas-a city that fit him like a glove. Known in high school as a talented card player, he found his calling in the casino world. His first job was at the Sands Hotel and Casino as a 21-card dealer. He later moved on to Binion's Horseshoe as a 21 dealer, where he was promoted to Pit Boss-a position he held for the vast majority of his career.

Dale embraced the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas in its golden years-he loved the fast-paced life, the city that never sleeps, the era of the mob-run casinos. He witnessed the heyday of the Rat Pack and the star-studded performances of The King himself-Elvis. In fact, in some early photos, Dale bore a striking resemblance to Elvis-the dark hair swept high and back, and the large gold-rimmed dark glasses.

He had impeccable taste in clothes, jewelry, and women. In fact, he once unknowingly dated a mob boss's wife-which came to a screeching halt once he found out the truth! His skills and integrity as a dealer and Pit Boss earned him the respect of many in the industry. Dale was the one you'd come to if you needed help dealing cards. A son of a casino owner once asked Dale if he would teach him how to deal, and of course, Dale obliged. He was also instrumental in forming a dealer's union-but unfortunately, that led to him being blackballed from working in many casinos.

After retiring from casino work, Dale stayed active by developing numerous patents for the gaming industry, including a card-dispensing shoe with a scanner and biometric gameplay verification technologies.

When he wasn't working on his inventions, he was on Ancestry.com, uncovering long-lost branches of the Hill family tree. He discovered newfound relatives and always kept in touch with them. One cousin-who never knew she was a "Hill"-was eternally grateful to Dale after he unraveled the history she had spent her life searching for. Dale was the key to her long-awaited answers and closure.

Dale moved to Texas for a while and built his dream home, but Texas wasn't good luck for him-so he returned to the city that never sleeps. Mexico then caught his eye, and he found a place with an ocean view, something he had always wanted. But again, it wasn't good luck, and he returned to Las Vegas-the city that had always felt like home-where he lived out the rest of his life.

Dale lived a very colorful and exciting life, to say the least. Even while living the fast-paced Vegas lifestyle, he always made time to help family and friends in their time of need. To many, he was more than an uncle or friend-he was a father figure and a mentor.

He will be greatly missed by many, but his spirit lives on in the many stories of Dale we carry in our hearts-stories of a man who lived life on his own terms.

He will always be remembered, and never forgotten.