Donald Hill

Donald R. Hill, 66, was called to heaven on August 21, 2021.  His loving wife, Blanca, of nearly 39 years held him as he took his final breath.

Don was a devoted husband, father and son.  Born and raised in Chillicothe, Ohio, he was fond of the outdoors. Some of the greatest times he had were on the family farm in Kellogg, Minnesota.  He found pleasure in life’s simplest things – the weather, birds, flowers and trees, fishing, the stars and moon and long walks.  He graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s in Agriculture and was an avid Buckeyes fan.  Shortly after settling in Texas, he found work through Western Company with the first oil fracking boom.  Don and Blanca married on September 17, 1982.

Due to layoffs, Don needed to find new work.  He enrolled at TAMIU and obtained his Master’s in Education.  He spent over 25 years with UISD as a highly regarded and well-respected teacher and coach.  The vast majority of those years were at United High School where he taught in the Science Department.  He spent many years as an assistant football coach, an assistant girls track coach and the head cross country coach and touched the lives of countless students and student-athletes.  His career as a teacher allowed him to visit his family back in Chillicothe, Ohio every summer.  And his children very much hold those summer visits fondly in their memories.

During his free time, Don loved fishing tournaments with his brother-in-law Richard Cremo, camping in the Hill Country outside Uvalde, and family vacations to the beach and Schlitterbahn.  As a craftsman, he honed his skills in woodworking, making several whirligigs and furniture and various carvings.  And he was making craft beer long before it was trendy.  His lawn and garden were always well manicured and tended.  Don had to keep an eye out for the fruits of his labor – his grapefruits and limes – from his fruit trees, often-times shooing away the garbage man and mailman.

In 2014, Don was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease.  He and his wife fought valiantly and served as an inspiration to many in the community with the same struggles.  Together they brought awareness to this terrible disease for which there is currently no cure.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jesse W. Hill, infant daughter, Margaret Lorraine Hill, and mother-in-law, Margarita G. Cremo.  Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Blanca M. Hill; his children Karim (Sandra) Hill, David (Jacqueline) Hill, Darius Hill and Trisha (Steve) Whetstone; his grandchildren Bella Hill, Hudson Hill, David and Savannah Hill, and Ellie Whetstone; his mother, Lorraine Hill; his siblings Jim (Susie) Hill, Linda (Andy) Woehr; Mike Hill (Kimberly Needs); Trish (Dave) Eddy; Tom (Suzie) Hill; and Ed (Jackie) Hill; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend it most heartfelt gratitude to Nurses on Wheels for hospice care, Father Hector Flores, Teofilo Lopez, Dr. David Garza, Dr. Santiago Restrepo, Dr. Dennis Cantu and Dr. Luis Benavides, Nurses on Wheels and family and countless friends for the enduring support and visits.

The family will be receiving condolences on Tuesday evening, August 24, 2021 from 4 to 9 p.m. at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services, 1410 Jacaman Rd.; where a Vigil for the Deceased and Rosary will commence at 7 p.m.

Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday morning, August 25, 2021 departing at 9:45 a.m. from Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapel to St. Patrick Catholic Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m.

Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at the family plot in the Laredo City Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be: Karim Hill, David Hill, Darius Hill, Tom Hill, Ed Hill, Steve Whetstone, Richard Cremo and Jose Lastra.

You may express your condolences, share your favorite memories, and sign the guestbook online at: www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels & Cremation Services, 1410 Jacaman Rd., Laredo, Texas 78041; (956)722-8850.