James Wiley Hill

James Wiley Hill, retired USAF Chief Master Sargent, age 88, a resident of Nashville, previously of Columbia, passed away Sunday morning August 14 ^th , 2022.

Visitation will be Saturday, August 20 ^th , 2022, from 10am-12pm at Heritage Funeral Home of Columbia with Bishop Douglas Graham officiating.  A funeral service will be at 12pm, and burial will follow in the Garden of Grace in Maury Memorial Gardens, adjacent to the funeral home, with military honors provided by the United States Air Force. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Jim was born August 26 ^th , 1933, in Columbia to the late Arthur Roy Hill and Edna Opal (Richardson) Hill.

He is survived by his loving wife, Dot Allen of Nashville, sons Jeffrey Clark Hill of Linden, TN and James Michael Hill (Debra) of Peoria, AZ, daughters Bethany Kay (Hill) Taylor (Gary) of Columbia, TN, and Angela Kay (Hill) Gibson (Matt) of Warner Robins, GA, 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.  Step(bonus)-children, daughter Karen Lynn Stephenson of Nashville, TN, sons Hoy D. (Nan) Allen Jr., of Thompson Station, TN, Mike (Trina) Allen of Arno, TN, his loving sister and best friend Martha (Hill) Lentz of Columbia, TN, brother-in-law Billy Rogers of Columbia, TN, and sister-in-law Patsy (Pennington) Rogers, also of Columbia, TN.

He was preceded in death on April 1, 2010, by his beloved wife of 52 years Sondra Faye (Pennington) Hill, sister Barbara (Hill) Edwards, brothers-in law Samuel Edwards and Albert Lentz, great-granddaughter Lauren Surber and Dot’s son Karl Lee Allen.

He proudly and honorably served 32 years in the United States Air Force, his first two years being with the Army National Guard and was a life member of the Post 19 American Legion.  In his own words he stated that his military career took him all over the world where he witnessed many different beliefs, religions, cultures and people.  He said he saw the “good, bad, ugly and beautiful” everywhere he went. From his experiences he learned to never judge another as we are all created equal in the eyes of Heaven.  These beliefs spread into the hearts and lives of his family.

In September of 1949, at the age of 16, Jim joined the Army National Guard with five friends, including Will Billington, who is the only survivor.  After completing basic training, at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX, he attended Morse Radio code Operating training at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, MS.  In this field he was an Interceptor Operator, where he intercepted Russian, Chinese, and North Korean Morse code until the code became obsolete.  Afterwards, he attended school and became a Crypto Operator.  He then requested re-training into Jet Aircraft Maintenance where he specialized on the Egress System on the B-52 Bombers.  After 3 years, in this field, he requested re-training into Command and Control where he served for the next 21 years.  He served in many countries including Japan, Korea, Germany, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Vietnam, and many posts in the USA including Alaska, twice at Elmendorf AFB.  At that time, his oldest son Jeff was also serving in the US Air Force at Elmendorf AFB in the field of Para Rescue. He retired from the Air Force in 1981 with the rank of Chief Master Sergeant.

In 1981 he began working at a local dialysis company.  He attended Columbia State Community College where he studied Data Automation and Electronic Engineering once again with his son Jeff at his side.  Afterwards Jim went to work for the REN Corporation, a dialysis company, as director of Purchasing & Maintenance.  He next began working for Better Water Inc. in Smyrna, TN.  When Medical Information Systems was formed, he rejoined his friend and mentor Dr. Jerome Tannebaum.  As this company progressed, a new company was formed into National Nephrology and Jim came on as Vice President of Purchasing & Maintenance.

Upon Jim’s “final retirement” of his illustrious life he became involved in the “Liar’s Club” which met each morning at Hardees, each noon at McDonald’s and each evening at O’Charley’s.  In all these endeavors, he found old friends and met many new ones.  At this time is when he met Dot Allen and they eloped March 8, 2017.

He was a devoted father and Papa.  He thoroughly enjoyed vehicles, especially his 1956 Chevrolet Convertible and his 2005 Ford, F-250 truck.  He was an avid fisherman and taught and shared that love with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, two of which he shared a birthday. He would say he was being blessed with grandchildren for his birthday.  He was a Patriot and enjoyed “debating” politics and counted it as his right and privilege to vote. He enjoyed theater, traveling, Sudoku, crossword puzzles, visiting friends and neighbors.  Most of all he enjoyed and loved his family.

He was young at heart and for his 80 ^th birthday, Jim and his granddaughter Savannah celebrated their mutual birthdays by going sky diving.  For his 81 ^st birthday, they got tattoos.  At age 83 he and Dot married.  Jim had the joy of sharing a birthday with another granddaughter, Olivia Waugh.  He was truly blessed!

He will always be remembered as a kind, generous man, with a terrific sense of humor; A TRUE GENTLE GIANT WHO WILL ALWAYS BE MISSED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM.

His family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Rand Hayes II with Ascension St. Thomas and Dr. Paul Fleser with Middle Tn Vascular for their exceptional commitment and compassionate care.

Pallbearers will be Jake Holliday, Garrison Taylor, Cedric McClenney, Derrick Debraux, Devin Dobbins, and Gary Taylor. Honorary pallbearers will include Will Billington, Hoy D. Allen, Jr., Michael Allen, Owen Ward, Mison Gibson, Matt Gibson, and Josh Holliday.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or any charity of your choice.