Melvin Hill

Melvin Richard Hill, age 77, passed away Thursday, April 7, 2022, at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and went home to be with Jesus.   He loved God, Family, Friends and life itself.

Richard was born November 18, 1944 in Pasadena, Texas to the late Frankie Melvin Hill and Mildred Onita Tolar.   Richard graduated from Milby High School in 1964.   He joined the U.S. Navy in 1965 and was a Vietnam Veteran.  He did two tours of duty, during which time he served 7 months on the USS Yorktown (CVS10) as a PH2 photographers mate.  He was honorably discharged in 1969.

Richard married Shirley Stephens in 1968.   Richard and Shirley resided in Houston most of their married life.   They lived in his childhood home and raised two sons.

Upon being discharged from the Navy Richard was employed as a commercial photographer at Bob Yeargin Photography.    He then changed careers and was a Maintenance Machinist Mechanic for several years at the Schumacher companies, Anheuser Busch and Mrs. Baird’s.    In later years, he turned to real estate working at Linda Bryant Realty and Realty Associates.

Richard was a competitor at heart.  After many years of competitive pistol shooting, accomplishing the Distinguished Master class and winning the Melvin Trana Trophy at Bayou Rifles for several years, he switched to competitive archery.  He won the State Indoor and Field Archery Championship seven times in various classes.  He competed in Archery in the Senior Olympics.  He liked hunting, fishing and playing golf.

Richard leaves behind his wife of 53 years, Shirley, sons Michael, Jon and daughter-in-law Amber, his sister Jerry Gober, Judy and brother-in-law Gary Howard, Christine and brother-in-law Mark Karnes. Numerous nieces and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Thomas.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 11 AM at Oakhurst Full Gospel Church - 441 FM 946 South, Oakhurst, TX 77359.

For those who wish to remember Richard in a special way, a donation in his memory can be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center at MD Anderson under Honor Loved Ones click online donation form or Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center – Online: Donate online – or by mail make check out to Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center mailing address: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service (00A/00C- 135)D, 2002 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030.

The Hill Family sends a special thank you to the medical staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center for the care and support shown to Richard during his years of illness.