Earl E. Hill

Earl E. Hill, age 98, of Union Mills, departed this life peacefully on Sunday afternoon, December 28, 2025 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

A native of Rutherford County, he was born August 1, 1927 to the late Robert Hayden Hill and Lillie Irene Arrowood Hill.

A man of the land and of hard work, he spent his life farming, running a sawmill, and doing things the honest way- with his hands, his heart, and a lot of grit. He always said a homegrown tomato was better than the rest, and anyone who knew him knows he was right. He raised pigs, worked sunup to sundown, and taught his family the value of effort, patience, and pride in what you produce. Above all else, he loved his family deeply. That love showed in everything he did and will live on in all of those who were blessed to know him.

He taught his family so much including his stories, his quiet wisdom, how to dress, how to work, how to be a man, how to drive, how to fish, how to make ends meet, how to shoot, and how to make eggs, and that’s with bacon grease and a lot of it...and salt! His legacy is planted deep and will continue to grow.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Winnie Snow Hill; one son, Bobby Dean Hill; ten brothers and sisters; and one grandson, Garrett Hill.

Those left to cherish his memory are two sons, Larry Hill and Terry Hill; three grandchildren, Amy Hill Moore, TJ Hill (Jessica), and Cody Hill (Christian); seven great-grandchildren, Dakota Hill Moore, Elijah Hill Moore, Samuel Hill, Cheyenne Hill, Colton Hill, Emory Sumlin, and Bryson Hill; and his daughter-in-laws, Jean Hill and Christi Hill.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 2, 2026 from 1:00 until 2:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Beam Funeral Service. A funeral service will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the funeral home with Revs. Greg Neely and Hunter Park officiating. Interment will follow at Montford Cove Baptist Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.