Obituaries: Stanley R. Hill

YUMA, Ariz. – Former Long Beach resident Stanley R. “Stan” Hill, 71, died May 4, 2007, in Yuma, Ariz., where he had resided the past year. The son of Raymond and Ida (Hendrickson) Hill, he was born Oct. 5, 1935, in Astoria, Ore. His father was a logger and the family lived in Seaside, Ore., and Naselle before settling in Long Beach.

Mr. Hill attended Ilwaco High School where he played football, graduating in 1953. While still in high school he began working for Willard Monnes at the Long Beach Chevron station, and thus began his career. He later purchased that station and also the Chevron station in Ilwaco, retiring in 1995 after a career which spanned 43 years.

When he began working in Long Beach the fire hall was just across the street. The allure of the siren attracted him and as soon as he turned 21 he joined the Long Beach Volunteer Fire Department. He served for over 35 years as a volunteer, including stints as chief and fire marshal. He was very proud of his service and often commented on how much he enjoyed the comradery and helping people. He also was one of the original emergency medical technicians in Long Beach.

He was a former member of Long Beach Elks No. 1937 and the Long Beach Lion’s Club. A member of the Catholic faith, he attended St. Mary’s Parish in Seaview and later St. Lawrence Parish in Raymond. He enjoyed reading, especially World War II history and the original journals of Lewis and Clark. He took pride in his rose garden, his years of community service and having provided employment to many area youth at his service stations.

Mr. Hill married Marcia Nordquist in 1966 in Winlock. They later divorced and in 1983 he married Mary Beth Warner. She survives, living in Yuma. He had moved to Menlo from Long Beach in 1995 and just last year had moved to Yuma.

Besides his wife, survivors include a daughter, Kristin Hill of Las Vegas, Nev.; son, Kenneth Hill of Seattle; stepdaughters Deborah Wilbur of Yuma, Ariz., Susan Dishongh of Carlsbad, Calif. and Terri Bluce of Skamania; brothers, John Hill of Shelton and James Hill of Long Beach; six step-grandchildren and one step great-grandchild. His son, Jay Raymond Hill, who died in 1989, preceded him in death.

Scriptural communion service will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, May 12 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Seaview. A luncheon reception follows. Those wishing to may make memorials to the Long Beach Fire Department, P.O. Box 310, Long Beach, WA 98631. Remembrances and condolences may be sent to Mary Beth Hill in care of Emerald Springs, 1475 S. 46th Ave. No. 127, Yuma, AZ 85364. Arrangements are by Penttila’s Chapel by The Sea, Long Beach.