Obituary for Kendall Hill
Kendall Cooper Hill, 81, of New Braunfels, formerly of Waco, passed away early on September 17, 2022, surrounded by his daughters and devoted caregiver, leaving for his new home in heaven.
Ken is survived by his two daughters and their families, Melissa and her husband Thomas Swedoski and his granddaughters, Lyla and Emily, of New Braunfels, and Janna and her husband Jon Haberland of Fischer; his brother Jerel Hill and his wife, M’Ellen, of Kingwood; his mother-in-law Maxine Dawson of Grapevine; his sister-in-law Tressie Higgins of Colleyville; sister-in-law Diana Donaldson Hill of San Clemente, CA; several nieces and nephews; caregiver and honorary third daughter, Kirsten Farmer and her entire family; and lots of special friends who are just like family, who helped ensure a lifetime of joy and adventure.
Ken was preceded in death by his beautiful wife, Betty; his parents; his brother, James Hill; his favorite aunt, Ann Hill; brother-in-law Paul Higgins; and many friends who were dearly missed.
Ken was born March 11, 1941, in Denison, TX to Robert Edward and Elizabeth (Cooper) Hill. He met his darling wife, Betty Phillips Hill, while working at Sentry Insurance in Irving, and after a whirlwind 17-day courtship, the two were married October 30, 1967, only parting after her passing in 2010.
After Ken graduated from Denison High School, he headed to the University of Texas at Austin, where he had the amazing fortune of living in the dorm with football players. Between rounds of late-night poker and telling tall tales, his love for all things UT athletics grew and was a constant point of discussion all his life.
He moved to Dallas to begin his career at Sentry Insurance followed by Union Bankers. In 1979, he and Betty moved the family to Waco, where they raised their daughters, were faithful members of the Church of Christ, and worked diligently to build a life to be proud of. Ken worked for American Income Life Insurance until 2015, when he retired for the third and final time. He was often asked why he didn’t try for promotions during his long tenure, and he said that time with his family was far more important.
Ken loved music, including 50s rock ‘n roll and R&B, folk, and 60s and 70s country. He loved most forms of entertainment, from listening to old radio shows, reruns of Bob Newhart, movies of every style, and reading the latest Tom Clancy novel. He also loved to travel, although he definitely preferred the car, which meant lots of long road trips for the kids, but plenty of hilarious memories. He was the photo taker for the family, and there are hundreds of them to prove it. He also had a great sense of humor, loving to hear other people’s stories and then pass them on so he could chuckle heartily all over again.
Ken led a life of service, to his family, his friends, his church and to the community. And even though dementia took his ability to do many things, he spent his last years working to ensure that his family was safe and would be taken care of when he passed. He succeeded.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 5, at 11am at the OakCrest Funeral Home Chapel in Waco, with Ernie Christie officiating. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 4, from 6 to 8pm at OakCrest Funeral Home. A memorial video honoring his life will be shown during the visitation and prior to the funeral.
Memorial donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.
Ken is survived by his two daughters and their families, Melissa and her husband Thomas Swedoski and his granddaughters, Lyla and Emily, of New Braunfels, and Janna and her husband Jon Haberland of Fischer; his brother Jerel Hill and his wife, M’Ellen, of Kingwood; his mother-in-law Maxine Dawson of Grapevine; his sister-in-law Tressie Higgins of Colleyville; sister-in-law Diana Donaldson Hill of San Clemente, CA; several nieces and nephews; caregiver and honorary third daughter, Kirsten Farmer and her entire family; and lots of special friends who are just like family, who helped ensure a lifetime of joy and adventure.
Ken was preceded in death by his beautiful wife, Betty; his parents; his brother, James Hill; his favorite aunt, Ann Hill; brother-in-law Paul Higgins; and many friends who were dearly missed.
Ken was born March 11, 1941, in Denison, TX to Robert Edward and Elizabeth (Cooper) Hill. He met his darling wife, Betty Phillips Hill, while working at Sentry Insurance in Irving, and after a whirlwind 17-day courtship, the two were married October 30, 1967, only parting after her passing in 2010.
After Ken graduated from Denison High School, he headed to the University of Texas at Austin, where he had the amazing fortune of living in the dorm with football players. Between rounds of late-night poker and telling tall tales, his love for all things UT athletics grew and was a constant point of discussion all his life.
He moved to Dallas to begin his career at Sentry Insurance followed by Union Bankers. In 1979, he and Betty moved the family to Waco, where they raised their daughters, were faithful members of the Church of Christ, and worked diligently to build a life to be proud of. Ken worked for American Income Life Insurance until 2015, when he retired for the third and final time. He was often asked why he didn’t try for promotions during his long tenure, and he said that time with his family was far more important.
Ken loved music, including 50s rock ‘n roll and R&B, folk, and 60s and 70s country. He loved most forms of entertainment, from listening to old radio shows, reruns of Bob Newhart, movies of every style, and reading the latest Tom Clancy novel. He also loved to travel, although he definitely preferred the car, which meant lots of long road trips for the kids, but plenty of hilarious memories. He was the photo taker for the family, and there are hundreds of them to prove it. He also had a great sense of humor, loving to hear other people’s stories and then pass them on so he could chuckle heartily all over again.
Ken led a life of service, to his family, his friends, his church and to the community. And even though dementia took his ability to do many things, he spent his last years working to ensure that his family was safe and would be taken care of when he passed. He succeeded.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 5, at 11am at the OakCrest Funeral Home Chapel in Waco, with Ernie Christie officiating. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 4, from 6 to 8pm at OakCrest Funeral Home. A memorial video honoring his life will be shown during the visitation and prior to the funeral.
Memorial donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.