Helen Hill

FRANKLIN

Mrs. Helen F. Hill, 89, died Thursday, June 11, 2015, at Johnson Memorial Hospital.

She was courageous in her earthly battle with Parkinson’s disease for more than 25 years.

Born in Kanawha County, West Virginia, on July 3, 1925, she was the daughter of the late George H. and Grace (Garrett) Skeen.

Her sister, Lorraine Rawling preceded her in death, and she is survived by another sister, Loretta C. Hill of New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Helen was a resident of Kanawha and Jackson counties, West Virginia, until moving away to attend Asbury College in 1947, where she received a bachelor’s degree in education and later a master’s degree from Ball State University. Ms. Hill taught special education in several Delaware County schools during her professional teaching career.

She served with her husband, the late Rev. Paul F. Hill, in the Evangelical United Brethren (EUB) Church congregations in New Albany and Rockdale until he was assigned to Selma in 1955.

In 1968, during their Selma tenure, the EUB and Methodist denominations merged and the church became Christ United Methodist Church.

She served with Paul in Selma’s Christ United Methodist Church from 1955 until 1982. She faithfully taught the adult Sunday school class while serving there. Helen loved to learn and found great joy in helping others benefit from learning, especially concerning the Lord. Following her husband’s retirement in 1982, she joined him as he assumed pastoral duties at Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church, Parker City, until 2003, when he became ill.

In September 1950, she and Paul F. Hill of Bremen, Ohio, were married in Kimball, West Virginia. Married for 54 years, Paul preceded her in death in 2004.

Ms. Hill is also survived by three children, John H. Hill, (wife Pepper), Greenwood; the Rev. Dr. P. Mark Hill, (wife Rebecca) of Kokomo; and Lorra Ensign, (husband-Todd), Greenwood; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. at Christ United Methodist Church in Selma, with the Rev. Dennis Rush officiating. Private graveside services will be in the Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church Cemetery, Parker City. Friends may visit with the family immediately following the service at the church Wednesday.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, contributions be made payable to Asbury University for the purpose of continuing an endowed scholarship for the training of Christian leaders.

The scholarship is named the Rev. Paul F. and Helen Skeen Hill Endowed Scholarship. Gifts may be given through the family (c/o John Hill, 1044 Mount Vernon Drive, Greenwood, IN 46142) or Asbury College, One Macklem Dr., Wilmore, KY 40390.

Thornburg Memorial Chapel, Parker City is handling funeral arrangements.