Gene (James Eugene) Hill passed away on May 5, 2022.  He was born on August 22, 1929 to D.W. and Hattie Smith Hill in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He was the second of their five children, younger than big brother Arch Hill, and older than sisters Peggy Hill Clayton King, Hilda Hill Hodges, and Loretta Hill Bahner Johnson.

The Hill family moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma in 1942, when Gene was in 7 ^th grade.  With his bright blue eyes, easy smile and good sense of humor he quickly made friends who would be part of his life for many decades.  He graduated from Ardmore High School in 1947 and headed to the University of Oklahoma.  After a year of college he joined the military and served one year in the Air Force, but wisely decided that OU was a lot easier and more fun than military service.   He returned to OU and graduated with a Bachelors in Business Administration.  He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and he and his SAE pledge class would continue to have yearly reunions for at least 60 years.

One night at The Mont restaurant in Norman, young Gene looked across the room and saw a dark-haired beauty with great legs sitting at the fireplace mantel.  A year later he married that beauty, Martha Ann Hood, and they celebrated their 70 ^th wedding anniversary 3 months before his death.  They had 3 children, Steve, Julie and Laura.  Their marriage was one of the great love stories.

Gene and Martha Ann moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma in 1954, where they would live the rest of their lives.  Gene was an ambitious and creative entrepreneur, and founded Hill Motor Company in 1961, becoming one of the first Volkswagen dealers in the United States. In addition to Volkswagens, Hill Motor Company sold new Subarus, Toyotas, AMCs, and Jeeps, all under one roof.  Later Gene was at the helm of Hill Country Chevrolet Toyota, Hill Country II, and then Hill Country Cars.

Gene cared deeply about his community and the people in it.  In Ardmore he served on the City Council and was honored to be Mayor in the 1972-73.  He was president of the local Kiwanis Club, and was one of the founders of the Ardmore Development Authority.  He served on the board of Exchange National Bank (later BancFirst) and the Ardmore Public Library and the Southern Oklahoma Library System.

But more than being a businessman and a public servant, Gene loved life and was grateful for every new day.  He was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church, and often found Sunday morning service to bring him peace and inspiration, not to mention a nice nap in later years. He dabbled in football (high school), volleyball, racquetball, tennis and golf.  He camped and fished, and spent many wonderful days boating at Lake Murray, Chickasaw Lake and Lake Ardmore. He had a huge vegetable garden, and always had an ambitious stack of library books next to his bed.  He was quick with a joke, and couldn't stay off the dance floor, especially if Glen Miller was playing. He had a pilot's license and flew over 300 flights in his three airplanes. He even delighted a few audiences with performances in Little Theatre plays.

He and Martha Ann were energetic and curious travelers, and traveled to England, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia, Bulgaria, China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Bali, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Romania, Canada, Slovenia, Croatia, Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Mexico.  Many trips were with dear friends (and brother and sister-in-law) Dr. Bill and Sue Hood.  Gene also managed to visit many interesting horseracing tracks in the United States and in Paris, Hong Kong, London, Bangkok and Canada.

Gene's greatest loves were the sunshine on his face, a day of good work, a clever pick at the horse races, time with dear friends, sunset at Lake Ardmore, and of course his beloved wife Martha Ann.  When asked how he was doing, his answer was always "Me?  Why I couldn't be better!"

Gene is preceded in death by his mother and father, Hattie and D.W. Hill, as well as brother Arch Hill, sisters Peggy Hill Clayton King and Hilda Hill Hodges, and brother-in-law Bill Hood.  He is survived by his wife Martha Ann Hood Hill; his son Steve Hill of Norman, daughter Julie Jordan and her partner Chuck Bachman of Ardmore, and daughter Laura Hill Peraino and her husband Vito Peraino, of Mason, Ohio; grandchildren Mindy Leary of Black Hawk, Colorado, Hannah Hill of Salt Lake City, Geneva Hill of Tulsa, Dominick Peraino of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Rosie Peraino of Columbus, Ohio; and great-grandchildren Ezra and Evelyn Leary of Black Hawk, Colorado.  Gene is also survived by his sister-in-law Sue Hood of Oklahoma City and her children Andy Hood and wife Elaine, Henry Hood and wife Laura, Michael Hood and wife Sylvia, Tetene Hood Meltzner and husband Steve; and also by his sister Loretta Hill Bahner Johnson and her daughters Beverly Bahner Carter, Sherry Lynn Wester, and Brenda Bahner.  The family also includes as survivors dear friends Allan Neustadt and Donna Ilniski.

The family is very grateful to the wonderful caregivers and staff at the Ardmore Veterans' Home and Cross Timbers Hospice.

A memorial service is scheduled for Tuesday, May 10 ^th at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Ardmore. Visitation will be Monday evening from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Craddock Funeral Home.

Donations in Gene's honor may be made to the Ardmore Public Library, the First United Methodist Church of Ardmore, Ardmore Little Theatre, or the Goddard Arts Center.