Obituary for Emily Hill
Emily Blake Hill, a young 98 years old, died on Friday, May 1, 2020, at Brandon Oaks in Roanoke, Virginia.
Emily was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 30, 1922, to Charles Blake and Katharine Seyster Coxe. They moved to Roanoke in 1932. She graduated from Randolph Macon Women’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1943 with a BA degree in Sociology and History, and then became a social worker for the American Red Cross during World War II.
In the summer of 1945 she met her husband-to-be, Lt. O. Halsey Hill, who was home on leave from the United States Army. Halsey proposed in December of 1945 and they were married while he was still in the service in April of 1946, (on the opening day of trout season as noted by her uncle, Whit Coxe). When her youngest child was five years old, Emily took night classes at Radford University in order to attain a position as a social worker for the Roanoke City Public Schools. She held the position from 1967 until her retirement in 1983. She was also a member of The Roanoke Junior League, Roanoke Assembly, Colonial Dames of America, Daughters of the American Revolution, the Roanoke Historical Society, the Roanoke Country Club, and St. John's Episcopal Church.
Emily was preceded in death by her husband Halsey of 62 years, and her daughter, Katharine (Katie) Hill Vaden.
She is survived by her sons, O. Halsey Hill Jr. (Janice) and Charles Blake Hill (Genia); her son-in-law, Frank Rogers Vaden; eight grandchildren, Bryan and Cameron (Tammy) Hill; Hill (Jen) Vaden, Blake (Amy) Vaden, and Jett (Chris) Brooks; Halsey, Blake, and Henry Hill; as well as eight great-grandchildren, Jackson and Charlotte Hill; Walker and Lilah Vaden; Gauge and Sawyer Vaden; and Halsey and Vaden Brooks; and her beloved cat, Kitty.
Emily had a lifelong interest in games and competition. She was wicked in the wickets of backyard croquet, nasty at the net in tennis, and the perfect partner in bridge - prized by all but her husband. Emily loved to have fun, but throughout life she was sustained by her deep faith in God, her family, and her extensive, wonderful friends she cherished so much.
The family would like to thank the staff at Brandon Oaks who provided her with compassion and companionship in the later years of her life.
A celebration of Emily's life will be held at a date to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Meals on Wheels of Roanoke, PO Box 14205
Roanoke, VA 24038-4205.
Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakeys.com.
Emily was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 30, 1922, to Charles Blake and Katharine Seyster Coxe. They moved to Roanoke in 1932. She graduated from Randolph Macon Women’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1943 with a BA degree in Sociology and History, and then became a social worker for the American Red Cross during World War II.
In the summer of 1945 she met her husband-to-be, Lt. O. Halsey Hill, who was home on leave from the United States Army. Halsey proposed in December of 1945 and they were married while he was still in the service in April of 1946, (on the opening day of trout season as noted by her uncle, Whit Coxe). When her youngest child was five years old, Emily took night classes at Radford University in order to attain a position as a social worker for the Roanoke City Public Schools. She held the position from 1967 until her retirement in 1983. She was also a member of The Roanoke Junior League, Roanoke Assembly, Colonial Dames of America, Daughters of the American Revolution, the Roanoke Historical Society, the Roanoke Country Club, and St. John's Episcopal Church.
Emily was preceded in death by her husband Halsey of 62 years, and her daughter, Katharine (Katie) Hill Vaden.
She is survived by her sons, O. Halsey Hill Jr. (Janice) and Charles Blake Hill (Genia); her son-in-law, Frank Rogers Vaden; eight grandchildren, Bryan and Cameron (Tammy) Hill; Hill (Jen) Vaden, Blake (Amy) Vaden, and Jett (Chris) Brooks; Halsey, Blake, and Henry Hill; as well as eight great-grandchildren, Jackson and Charlotte Hill; Walker and Lilah Vaden; Gauge and Sawyer Vaden; and Halsey and Vaden Brooks; and her beloved cat, Kitty.
Emily had a lifelong interest in games and competition. She was wicked in the wickets of backyard croquet, nasty at the net in tennis, and the perfect partner in bridge - prized by all but her husband. Emily loved to have fun, but throughout life she was sustained by her deep faith in God, her family, and her extensive, wonderful friends she cherished so much.
The family would like to thank the staff at Brandon Oaks who provided her with compassion and companionship in the later years of her life.
A celebration of Emily's life will be held at a date to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Meals on Wheels of Roanoke, PO Box 14205
Roanoke, VA 24038-4205.
Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakeys.com.