Charles Hill

Charles Robert Hill, 83, was born to Clarence and Rachel (Bell) Hill on February 13, 1937 in Walker County, Alabama. He passed peacefully on October 19, 2020. Charles graduated from Carbon Hill High School and The University of Alabama with a degree in Electrical Engineering. After college he worked 31 years for Alabama Power Company in Eufaula, Phenix City, Headland, Montgomery and Birmingham before retiring as Operations Superintendent in 1995. At an early age Charles learned the value of education, hard work and giving your best at whatever you were doing – values he later passed on to his sons. He often marveled at his journey from the son of a coal miner living on a dirt road, where he plowed the fields with a mule and had to wear overalls to school that was taught in a one room elementary schoolhouse to becoming the first in his family to graduate college and then watching the moon landing. Along the journey he held various jobs from driving the school bus in high school, even reporting his sister to his parents for misbehaving on the bus, to various construction jobs, along the way saving money to help pay for his education. Charles enjoyed dove hunting, fishing and cheering for Alabama football and basketball teams. He also enjoyed hiking, camping, canoeing and being outdoors. He was an active supporter of the Boy Scouts of America with the Birmingham Area Council as a Cubmaster, Scoutmaster and Committee Chairman where he influenced countless number of boys and adults. He also designed and assisted in the construction of a log cabin for his sister and brother-in-law on Smith Lake - no one had any experience, they just persevered, worked hard, didn’t quit and figured it out as they went along. After retiring, Charles started a Handyman company where no job was too small and very few too large for him to tackle. He figured the world needed more Engineers and that he could do or figure out just about anything – there was his way and the wrong way.

He was known simply as Papa Charles to his grandkids and Uncle Chuck to his niece and nephew. Papa Charles delighted in spending time with his grandkids and his niece’s children especially if he could take them fishing or to an Alabama football games. He revealed in telling stories about his childhood, his parents and the numerous adventures along his journey, especially those about his Grandpaw Bell who he said had the biggest influence on him as a child. He often spoiled his grandkids at Christmas and made visiting Papa Charles fun times. He also loved to play fetch with his black labs, Darth and Luke, or take them fishing with him.

Charles is preceded in death by his grandparents, his parents, his 2nd wife, Elaine Hill, several aunts, uncles, cousins and two brother-in-laws, Dodge Davis and Walker Mead. He is survived by his first wife, Janice Harrison Hill of West Point, MS; son and daughter-in-law, Robert Andrew and Terri Hill of Tuscaloosa, AL, granddaughter Rachel and grandson Charles; son and daughter-in-law Charles David and Julie Hill of West Point, MS, grandsons Travis, Charles David II and Chapman, granddaughter Lindsey; sisters Betty Davis of Crane Hill, AL and Margie Mead of Baileytown, AL; niece and husband Bruce and Jennifer Dickerson of Crane Hill, AL and their children Davis, Will and Lee; nephew and wife Melvin and Jennifer Mead of Ohatchee, AL and their son Walker.

Services will be 12:00 Thursday, October 22, 2020, at Magnolia Chapel Funeral Home North with Rev. Dale Funderburg officiating and Magnolia Chapel North directing. Burial and graveside service will follow at 3:00 PM at Brookside Cemetery in Millbrook, Ala. Visitation will be 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM at the funeral home.