Arthur Art Rodney Hills
December 04, 1930 - September 07, 2018
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Arthur Art Rodney Hills
December 04, 1930 - September 07, 2018
Obituary
Arthur (Art) Rodney Hills, age 87, passed away on Friday September 7, 2018. Art is survived by his wife of 66 years, Nan, his three children Victoria (Mark) Modrak, Lynda (Ray) Colliver, and Bruce (Kristie) Hills, his brother Ken (Linda) Hills, eight loving grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is predeceased by his mother Bea Hills, his father Lester Hills, and his brother Gary Hills.
Art grew up in Spokane, Washington, working on the farm, fishing, and hunting. He often told stories of those happy and mischievous times. He joined the Air Force during the Korean War, where he met Nan on a blind date in Mobile, Alabama. It was a whirlwind romance and they were married after a few months. After his service was over, they moved to Spokane where they raised a family and where he worked for the telephone company until his retirement after 37 years of work he loved.
Art was a devoted father who loved to be active. He was a Boy Scout leader, built and raced hydroplanes, built and raced cars, got his pilot license, and built the house in which he raised his family. After his retirement, he and Nan moved to Castle Rock where together they designed and built their home on the Cowlitz River. He started playing tennis again, worked with Friends of the Cowlitz to raise fish to restock the river and to build a shooting range, and he fished every chance he got. His friends and family all have pictures holding up a salmon or steelhead that he helped them catch. His life was long and he lived it to the fullest.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday October 6, 2018 at 12:30 p.m. at Pines Cemetery – 1402 S Pines Rd. Spokane Valley, WA.
Memorial Service
- Date & Time: October 6, 2018 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: Pines Cemetery
- Location: 1402 S Pines Rd Spokane Valley, WA 99206 - (Get Directions)
5 responses to Arthur Art Rodney Hills
Callie Hills says:
September 7, 2018
I’ve always known I was welcome in Art and Nan’s home at any time. There was always a place at the table for me and whatever friend(s) I might bring along. He taught me pistol shooting in his backyard in Kirkland, when I was a teen. They let me stay with them for two weeks when I needed a place during my first summer internship with the phone company, back in 1983. As an adult, I fished in the pond at their home on the Cowlitz River; where I caught a four pound trout that fed us all for two or three meals. He helped me construct shelving for a walk-in closet in my house in Southeast Portland, and let me join him and his friends the Culps for Indy Car weekends at Portland International Raceway. Art and Nan hosted many family gatherings at their homestead in Castle Rock, WA, before moving to Bellingham a few years ago. Terrence (my fiance’) and I spent Christmas with them in their newest abode, in 2014.
His was a rich, full life, lived with generosity and appreciation for family and friends. I feel so very lucky to share a blood kinship with him.
Carl Davis says:
September 7, 2018
I met Art when I was contacted to help him build the foundation for his new home on the Cowlitz River.Working with Art grew into a life time friendship of hunting , fishing and volunteering in the Castle Rock Community. Art donated his Engineering skills to the Castle Rock School District designing and training the Maintenance Dept. to buildand install the first computer building network in the High School and eventually the rest of the District. Art was directly responsible for hundreds of Castle Rock students getting computer education in our community. The community,Cowlitz River and the environment will greatly miss Art. My condolences to Nan and the Hills Family.
Carl and Donna
Ray Swanson says:
September 7, 2018
My deepest condolences to all family and friends of Art Hills.I met Art many years ago through the Cowlitz Game and Anglers. I greatly appreciate Art for his intellect, kindness and calm demeanor.
Very much, Art is directly responsible for the vision, design and construction of the Cowlitz County Public Shooting Range. He was quick to put action to ideas and produced a design that would become reality. His efforts have resulted in a Public owned and volunteer operated facility that is now assessed at $1,150,000.
I always considered Art a very fine man and good friend.
He is greatly missed……………..ray swanson
Bruce Singleton says:
September 7, 2018
My deepest condolences. Art was a well regarded member of Cowlitz Game and Anglers and a key contributor to the building of the Cowlitz Public Shooting Range.
Dick & Diane Culp says:
September 7, 2018
Art and his family and our family go back to the mid-1950’s. As such, I could write a book the size of War and Peace about all of the adventures we had. Racing cars and hydros. Fishing the “seldom fished” lake we buswhacked our way into only to find a road to the other side. Driving cross country to watch Spokane native Tom Sneva win the Indy 500.However, having Art as my Best Man is what I’ll always consider the high point of our friendship.
When Nan told me Art had passed at 5;30 Friday evening it didn’t come as a shock. However, I had to chuckle a bit about the timing. You see, Art was the most conscientious employee the Bell System ever had. He never put in less than a full days work for a days pay. So, true to form, Art waited until after 5 on a Friday to leave us.
Time to rest, my friend.