George Ray HILL, D.D.S.

HILL, BILLINGS, MCGUFFICK, JONES

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 11/8/2012 at 20:36:39

September 28, 1927 --- November 4, 2012

Ray "G.R." Hill, was born on September 28, 1927, in Hampton, Iowa and passed away quietly on Sunday, November 4, 2012 in Fresno, Ca, with family at his side. He was the youngest of three children born to the Senator G.R. Hill and Genevieve Hill, where he was raised in Clarion, Iowa. G. R. served in the United States Navy before attending the University of Iowa dental school. After graduating in 1953, he moved his family to Fresno and began a successful dental practice of 54 years. He enjoyed getting to know his patients and treated them as family. His most enjoyable hobbies were playing golf and cards at the San Joaquin Country Club, where he was a member for many years. He had a passion for sports and supporting Fresno State Bulldog athletics, especially the basketball and football teams, as well as his alma mater, the Iowa Hawkeyes. He could always be found at a game, tailgate event or a booster event. His fondest memories were told and retold of life in Iowa, family trips to Hawaii, a houseboat trip to Lake Mead and fishing in Canada, to name a few. G.R. was a loving, caring, and generous man. He truly loved people and believed in humankind. He always had a smile and a kind word for anyone he met. Anyone who knew G.R., knew he loved his four legged companions as well. He treated each of his dogs as an extension of the family. He enjoyed driving to the coast with Teddy and his dogs and spending the day strolling in Carmel.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Cathy and a brother, who died shortly after birth. G.R. is survived by Leona "Teddy" Hill, his loving wife of 62 years; his children, Ray Hill, Holly Billings, Wendy McGuffick and Jon Hill and his wife Shelly, all of Fresno; his sister, Bette Jones of Cincinnati, Ohio; eleven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank and express gratitude to the St. Agnes Hospice staff and the staff of Cottonwood Court for the dignity, care and support shown to G.R. and his family. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church on Friday, November 9, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Remembrances can be made to the University of Iowa Foundation, Fresno State Bulldog Foundation or the Alzheimer's Association .

Fresno Bee - Fresno, California
November 7, 2012