Georgia Hill

CHAMPAIGN - Georgia Hill, 95, of Champaign passed peacefully from this life, on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, listening to her family sing to her. Georgia Lee Bales was born June 5, 1919, in Fithian Illinois, the second of nine children of Clara Myrtle and Lincoln Wilber Bales. She grew up with her raucous siblings, Margaret, John, Betty, Gene, Earl, Jimmy, Juanita, and Barb. Robert Earl (Verna), James Donald (Patricia), and Juanita Marie are still with us and are our treasures. She graduated from Tolono High School in 1937, and then worked at "the dime store" in downtown Champaign, where she was a trophied ping pong champ. After work, she would sometimes go to the movie theater where she could see a double feature for a nickel. Georgia married Howard Hill in 1940, in Champaign, where she kept the home fires burning while he served in WWII. She worked in the cafeteria of Columbia Grade School for 20 years, retiring in 1976. They had five children. Paul (Roberta), Carl (Jane), and Amanda Hill Shepherd (Peter Ashbrook), of Champaign, Janet Seeley (David), of Newton, Iowa. Her daughter Martha Hill Croxen, and her husband of 63 years, met her in the clouds. She has 22 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson. She volunteered with RSVP, serving with The Carle Pavilion Gift Shop, and Eastern Illinois Food Bank for 20 years. Georgia was also active with her husband at First Christian Church, where she was a charter member. She led the youth group, was Sunday School Secretary, baked pies and cakes, and helped build their first building on John Street. Wherever there was a need, she and Howard were there to help. They also actively supported and worked with Empty Tomb, Champaign, Little Galilee Camp, Clinton IL, and Lincoln Christian University, Lincoln IL. Georgia would be pleased if you chose from any of these four to make a donation in her honor and memory. A service to celebrate Georgia's life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 1st at First Christian Church, on the corner of Curtis and Staley Road, Champaign. The family will receive friends Thursday, April 30th from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the church. Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 710 N. Neil St. Champaign, is in care of the arrangements. Please join Georgia's family in sharing memories and photo of her life on her Tribute Wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.

Visitation Apr 30, 2015 Thursday, 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM First Christian Church 3601 S. Staley Road Champaign, Illinois 61822 Service May 1, 2015 Friday, 10:30 AM First Christian Church 3601 S. Staley Road Champaign, Illinois 61822 Final Resting Place Grandview Memorial Gardens 4112 W. Bloomington Rd Champaign, IL US