Obits for week of 1-19-2012

Russell Garrett Hill 1979-2012 CALIFORNIA – Captain Russell Garrett Hill passed away January 8, 2012, in a motorcycle accident on Palomar Mountain in San Diego, California. He was born March 21, 1979, in Denton. He married his wife, Wendy, April 26, 2003, in Conroe. He is preceded in death by his infant son, Michael Joseph Hill; his paternal grandparents, J.D. Hill and Mary Jo Pickens Hill; his aunt, Cathy Hill; and his great-grandparents, Joel M. and Mary Katherine Skinner Pickens; and his maternal grandfather, Earl Dean Franklin. He is survived by his wife, Wendy JoAnn Hill of Escondido, California; his son, Warren Cooper Hill; his daughter, Adrianne Elise Hill; his parents, James Bruce Hill and Deborah Diane Franklin Hill of Ocala, Florida; his sister, Robin LeAnne Hill of Plano; and his great-aunt, Marjorie Kolman of Colorado City. Russell graduated from Pilot Point High School in Texas in 1997. He attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Agricultural Development in December of 2002. After graduation, he attended USMC Officer Candidate School as a member of Charlie Company, 2nd Platoon in 2004. Captain Hill accepted his commission as a 2nd Lt. in the United States Marine Corps Reserve on March 26, 2004 in Quantico, Virginia then attended The Basic School as a member of Charlie Company, 2nd Platoon. After TBS 2nd Lt. Hill attended flight school at NAS Pensacola, and NAS Whiting Field in Milton, Florida. He trained with VT-2 for primary fixed wing training and then with HT-18 for advanced helicopter training. He was designated a Naval Aviator on June 16th, 2005 at Whiting Field. After flight school, 1st Lt. Hill completed training to fly for the CH-46E Sea Knight “Battle Phrog” with HMM(T)-164 at Camp Pendleton, California. He was then stationed at Marine Corps Air Station New River with HMM-365 located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 where he flew the CH-46E in combat. Russell was promoted to the rank of Captain on May 28, 2008, in Kandahar, Afghanistan. After his first deployment flying the CH-46E, Russell was selected to fly the MV-22B Osprey where he was a plank holder in VMM-365. As a pilot in VMM-165 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California, he was again a plank holder. Capt. Russell Hill received the Air Medal with five strike/flight awards for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight as a pilot of the MV-22B Osprey and CH-46E SeaKnight, with Marine Medium Tiltrotor/Helicopter Squadron 365, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. While deployed, he flew over 270 combat hours during 100 missions in support of the security of Marines and soldiers on the ground in Afghanistan. His other personal awards include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO Medal – ISAF Afghanistan, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one Bronze Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Ralph Glenn 1918-2012 NEW MEXICO -- Ralph Glenn, former resident of Cisco, Abilene and Colorado City, Texas, died at the age of 93 on January 11, 2012, in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Ralph was born to Essie and R.A. Glenn in Amarillo on October 28, 1918. In 1919 the family moved to Abilene, where Ralph and his younger brother “Beezer” grew up. Ralph graduated from Abilene High School in 1935 and from Hardin Simmons University in 1939. Following graduation, Ralph opened Glenn’s Furniture Store in Cisco in 1939 and married his college sweetheart, Madrine Hammond, on July 14, 1940. From 1943-1946 he served in the U.S. Air Corps, where he was an instructor and flight crew member in the Aleutians. After his return to Cisco, the couple had two daughters – Doris Lee in 1946 and Marcia Kay in 1950. From 1952-1958, Ralph was President of the Board of Trustees of Cisco ISD, being responsible for Cisco Junior College from 1952-1956. During these early years in Cisco, he was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church, as well as the Lions Club. Following the death of his father in 1957, Ralph moved his family to Abilene, where he assumed management of his father’s furniture store. The family lived in Wylie and were members of the Wylie Baptist Church. From 1961-1962 Ralph was a member of the Board of Trustees of Wylie ISD; and following a mid-life career change, he taught science and math at Wylie High School from 1962-1966. In 1966, the Glenn family moved back to Cisco when Ralph became Academic Dean of Cisco Junior College. From 1974-1976 he served as President of the Cisco Chamber of Commerce, and in 1971 he received an M.A. in Business Administration and Economics from Hardin Simmons University. Before retiring from CJC in 1988, Ralph served as the Administrative Dean for financial aid and federal programs and, finally, the Vice-President for Business Services. After his retirement, Ralph and Madrine moved to her hometown of Colorado City, where Ralph pursued his life-long passion for golf, playing almost every day until a back injury at age 85. In 2005, he moved to New Mexico to be closer to his daughters. Ralph was preceded in death by his wife, Madrine; his parents; and his younger brother, R.B. Glenn. He is survived by his daughter, Doris Glenn Wagner, and son-in-law, Guenter Wagner, of Corrales, NM; his daughter, Marcia Glenn, of Albuquerque, NM; his special friend, Donna Ericksen, of Rio Rancho, NM; his sister-in-law, Marcia Glenn; nephew, Mike Glenn; and niece, Margaret Glenn of Boise, Idaho; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Doris and Ted Hill, and their family in Abernathy and Minnesota; and extended family in Colorado City, Burnet, and Oklahoma. According to his wishes, Ralph is being cremated and will be buried next to his wife Madrine in Cisco. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Cisco Cemetery Association (PO Box 67/Cisco, TX 76437). A graveside service will be held at the Oakwood Cemetery in Cisco on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. Willis Ray Phariss 1929-2012 COLORADO CITY -- Willis Ray Phariss, 82, passed away at Kristi Lee Manor on Saturday, January 14, 2012. Graveside services were held on Tuesday, January 17 at 2:00 p.m. at the Colorado City Cemetery. Dr. Jerry Shields officiated the service. Willis was born June 26, 1929 in Breckenridge to O.R. and Alvis Phariss. Willis married Edith Blythe in Colorado City in 1949. Willis married Jimmie Holt on June 26, 1979 in Vernon. He worked as a roofer during his life and served in the United States Air Force during the Korean conflict. He loved the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers. Survivors include his daughters, Elizabeth Davis and husband Mike of Decatur, Sue Spivey and husband, Kenneth of Fort Worth, and Kelly McKittrick of Fort Worth; his sons, Wade Phariss and wife, Robin of Decatur and Samuel Phariss and wife, Denise of Fort Worth; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Myrtle Richburg of DeLeon; brothers, Jack Phariss of Colorado City and Joe Phariss of Dublin. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jimmie; grandson, Parker Phariss; sister, Juanita Phariss; brothers, Jimmy Phariss and O.R. “Buck” Phariss. All arrangements were under the direction of Kiker Seale Funeral Home. Alvah Ruth Hollis 1931-2012 BIG SPRING -- Alvah Ruth Hollis, 80, died on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at her residence. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 14 at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel, Big Spring with Eddy Pitchford, officiating. Graveside services followed at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Lamesa Memorial Park in Lamesa with Dr. David Ward, officiating. She was born on December 27, 1931, in Lamesa and married Raymond “Sonny” Hollis on August 1, 1960 in Lamesa. Mrs. Hollis graduated from Lamesa High School and then received her associate degree in Lubbock. She worked as deputy county clerk in Lamesa and as deputy county clerk in Odessa for three years. She then worked as Westbrook ISD School Tax Collector for 15 years retiring in the spring of 1997. Alvah lived in Westbrook for 21 years before coming to Big Spring after retirement. She was a member of 14th and Main Church of Christ. She is survived by her husband, Raymond “Sonny” Hollis of Big Spring; one daughter, Ann Ward and husband, Dr. David Ward of Big Spring; two granddaughters, April Farris and husband, Ben of Austin and Crystal Ward of Lubbock; one sister, Marquita Long and husband, Glenn of Andrews and two brothers, J. Terry Brown of Lamesa and Sherril Brown and wife, Linda of Garland. Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Big Spring.