Ralph Hill

CWO4 Ralph Alden Hill, 86, a Navarre, FL, resident passed away Tuesday, January 26, 2021, in his home with many of his loving family members present to treasure their last moments with their very loving and much loved, respected, energetic, supportive, husband, friend, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Ralph Alden was born July 26, 1934, in St. Joseph, MO, to Ralph R Hill and Amanda Mydland Thompson, a native of Norway.  Ralph Alden graduated from Savannah, MO, high school in 1952.  A proud U.S. Navy man, he enlisted in the Naval Reserves as a 17-year-old senior in high school, which later led to his Navy career of 42+ years of active and Naval Reserve service in the U. S. Navy. He retired from the Navy at his last duty station at Naval Air Station, San Diego, NAS Coronado, CA, July 26, 1994.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, his sister-in-law Shirley Ann Koelling Hill, his sister & brother-in-law Mildred June Hill King & Calvin Cyrus King, and his niece, Sonja Lee King.

Survivors include: His beloved wife of 63+ years, Carol Jean Koelling Hill.  His brother, Alfred Taylor Hill, of San Jose, CA, (who married Carol’s sister, Shirley).

Other survivors are:  Daughter Debra Jean Hill Bailey (David) of Navarre FL, a registered nurse; Debra’s daughter Myria Jean DeShon Darnell (Devon) & their 6-week-old daughter, Stella Grace Darnell.

Also son Ralph Arthur Hill (Emily), a Tulsa businessman & oil & gas company CEO, Ralph Arthur’s sons, Montgomery Alden Hill (Kelsey), Mitchell James Hill (Erika).

Nephew James Steven Hill, nieces Karen Sue Hill Peterson, Susan Ann Hill Campbell, Barbara Lynn Hill Wilson and several great nieces and nephews.

He was: A teacher of math, science, history at Pickett and physical education at Skaith schools in St. Joseph, Missouri; a fair and respected athletic coach of nearly all sports; a sports official who officiated refereed, and umpired most high school and college sports in northwest Missouri. His four-man football crew officiated 25 years of football games for northwest Missouri schools & colleges.  He graduated from St. Joseph Junior College with an Associates of Science degree and from Northwest Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in education.

Ralph was a life member of Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA), American Legion, Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), a member of the USS Coral Sea CVA-43 Association, the NRA, USS Midway Museum, Reserve Organization of America (ROA), the VFW, and Disabled American Veterans (DAV).  He was a Navy Memorial “Plank Owner”, a member of the original crew of supporters who made the 200 year dream of a permanent national tribute to Navy personnel a reality. He loved history & frequently would from memory write down all U.S. Presidents & Vice-Presidents (in order) & their military affiliation. In 1967 Ralph was the first warrant officer chosen in the St. Joseph Naval Reserve Center.  Only 212 of 15,000+ applicants were chosen to be W-1’s.  He retired as a proud W-4, the highest rank of warrant at that time.  If you were lucky enough to have sat with him you know you’d walk out with memories of stories about the Navy, history and sports (including his numerous ping pong tournament championships)!

The Navy often says when a shipmate passes,     “Fair winds and following seas.

Rest easy, we have the watch.”

Please make any donations to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) in lieu of flowers