Eloise M. Hill was born May 13, 1927, “Friday the 13th,” in Elmira, New York, the oldest of three. She was raised by her father and paternal grandparents on a dairy farm. In her younger years she enjoyed sledding; skiing; and swimming and ice-skating on the east branch of the Tioughnioga River, as well as singing hymns with her father around the piano was an important family activity. Eloise graduated from Truxton High School, Most Outstanding Student, 1944. Her father wanted her to go to a Christian school so she attended Atlantic Union College in Lancaster, Massachusetts, for four years, graduating with a BA degree in Music.
At the beginning of her second year of college, she met Ward Hill at the get-acquainted “Handshake.” She told her roommate he would be her future husband. She played the piano for the Men’s Chorus; Ward Hill was the President of the Men’s Chorus. A faculty member, Mr. Pierson, encouraged their friendship by having Ward and Eloise over for meals at his home. They courted for three years, as Eloise’s father said there would be no marriage until graduation from college. Eloise graduated from Atlantic Union College in 1948 with a BA degree in Music.
She married the love of her life, Ward Hill, in DeRuyter, New York, August 30, 1948. Their daughter Virginia Lee was born in 1955, and their son John Parker in 1958. Following Ward’s graduation from college and the seminary in Washington, DC, they began a long life of service, ministering and teaching in several communities in the United States and Canada, including Montreal, Quebec; Ottawa, Ontario; St. Johns, New Brunswick; Hartford, Connecticut; Toronto, Ontario; and Oshawa, Ontario. While in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Eloise earned a Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music (Canada) in Vocal Performance. In 1971, Ward and Eloise arrived in Lincoln, Nebraska, as Ward had been hired to teach religion at Union College. Education was always an important pursuit for both Ward and Eloise. She went on to complete a MA degree in Music Performance from UNL (‘70’s).
Eloise’s musical career spanned at least 65 years. She delighted in teaching piano students in her home, giving recitals, playing for church services, and accompanying other artists. Her focus was always on Jesus and a life of service to others. She offered unfailing support to her husband, Ward, of 68 years, and her children. She loved reading her Bible; attending church services; studying health information; cooking nutritious meals; writing letters; and visiting with family, friends, and caregivers. She always expressed gratitude, “they’re so good to me,” for the excellent care provided her by the staff at CountryHouse Residence, where she and Ward resided since 2015.
Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m., Sunday, July 22, 2018, College View Seventh-day Adventist Church, 4801 Prescott Ave. with Pastor Deneil Clarke officiating. Burial in College View Cemetery.
Memorials to Union College Foundation, 3800 South 48th, Lincoln, NE 68506. Visitation one-half hour prior to service time at the church.