ELBERT HENRY HILL

Elbert Henry Hill was born in Seattle on March 24, 1925, to Clark Hamilton and Faye Cline Hill. He was the youngest of their three sons. His brothers Ralph and Arthur preceded him in death.

Elbert attended Highline High School in Burien, Washington, leaving in 1942 before graduation to serve his country in the Navy as a submariner on the USS Tuna(SS 203) during World War II. He returned after the war to marry Patricia Schwarz, the love of his life in October 1947. They settled in Burien and started their family with Tom born April 1, 1949 and John September 16, 1951. Jim came along in July 16, 1957 to complete the family. In 1951, Elbert was called up from the Reserves during the Korean War and again served his country as a submariner on the USS Blackfin (SS322). During the time in service he achieved the rate of Electrician First Class.

Elbert worked for Pacific Northwest Bell for 37 years starting out as a lineman, but spent most of his career working as a company technician/installer at Sea-Tac Airport. In 1958 the family moved to the 5H Ranch, a small farm in Des Moines, WA, where they introduced their three sons to the rural way of life. Elbert and Patricia were happily married for 64 years before Patricia passed away in 2012.

The family enjoyed spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, and packing into the high country with their horses whenever they could. Elbert was a proud member of Backcountry Horsemen of Washington and logged countless volunteer hours working with them.

Elbert also enjoyed driving his horses in parades using a buggy and wagon that he had rebuilt. He could often be found keeping busy with his hobbies, including woodworking, flintknapping and searching for arrowheads. He loved spending time with family, especially hunting in Northeastern Washington and salmon fishing at Sekiu.

Elbert is survived by his three sons, Tom, John, and Jim and their spouses, Linda, Janice, and Heidi; six grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; and six great-great grandchildren.

Elbert's legacy to his family and friends are the memories of a lifetime of adventures. We will miss him dearly, but his wisdom lives on through all of us.