Obituary of Walter R. "Walt" Hill

Walter R. "Walt" Hill, of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2025, surrounded by his family.

 

Walt was born on June 30, 1931, in Ballinger, Texas, to Roy and Frances Hill. He grew up in Ballinger, where he excelled in sports and earned his Eagle Scout ranking with the Boy Scouts of America.  Following high school graduation, he attended Texas A&M University on a football scholarship and earned both his BBA and MBA degrees. Upon graduation from A&M, he was commissioned in the USAFR, serving a total of 30 years of combined Air Force active duty and reserve service.  He retired as a Colonel in 1983.

 

He and Jacqueline Bishop, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Bishop (Nola), were married in Paint Rock, Texas, on December 26, 1952.

 

In 1957, Walt joined Consolidated Vultee Aircraft (Convair) in Fort Worth, TX and for the next 36 plus years served in various professional and middle management positions in Industrial Relations, Safety and Industrial Hygiene activities through the B-58, F111, and F-16 programs, retiring in 1993 from Lockheed Martin TAS. 

 

His community involvement included numerous local and national board memberships, and he was a long time Committee Chairman in the Lockheed Martin Association of Retirees. Additionally, he served in leadership roles for several professional and academic associations. Walt enjoyed participating in sports activities throughout his life and was an avid golfer into his 90’s.

 

Walt is preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Mrs. Gladys Nickell, Mrs. Mildred Howard, and Mrs. Clara Kurtz.   He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Jacqueline; daughters: Molly Hale, and Nancy Plunk and husband Mike; son: Jack W. Hill and wife, Amy; niece, Melissa Lanier and husband, Glenn; grandchildren: Jayne Hattaway and husband Zach; Travis, Marilyn, and John Allan Plunk; Gracie and Jake Phillips, Jack Hill, Jr. and wife Tamera; Mary Vacek and husband, Joe; Sarah, Alexandra, and Jacqueline Hill, and great-grandchildren: Jax Hill, and Logan and Joe Vacek, Jr.

 

He will be honored in a private ceremony at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Abilene, Texas. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the Memorial Fund at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, 2700 McPherson Avenue, Fort Worth, TX 76109 or to the Association of Former Students, Texas A&M University, 505 George Bush Drive, College Station, TX 77840.