Theodore Franklin Hill, Jr.
Theodore Franklin Hill, Jr.
Services to honor and celebrate the life of Theodore Franklin Hill, Jr. will be 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, in the RiverCrest Chapel at Bixby Funeral Service.
Interment will follow at Bixby Cemetery. Mr. Hill passed away on Saturday,
Dec. 16, in Tulsa. He was 90.
Born Oct. 15, 1927 in Okemah, Theodore Franklin Hill, Jr. or T.F., as he was known by his family,
grew up in his birth community. The second of three children born to Theodore Franklin Hill, Sr. and Eunice (Grice) Hill, T.F. or Ted was raised by hardworking parents who owned and operated various Okemah businesses through the years. Although following high school he left his hometown, T.F. would return to Okemah a few times. Once, even taking over one of the family businesses a restaurant called Ted’s Iceberg.
A man always looking for an adventure, T.F. joined the Army Air Force on the heels of WWII. This, after his high school graduation in 1945. A decorated veteran, he received the Army of Occupation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. During his time in the service, Ted served overseas in Germany where he worked in communications. This would be the beginning of what would become a civilian career as, upon his discharge, he attended John Brown University receiving his Bachelor’s in Communications and Broadcasting.
Ted’s first radio job would be in Kansas where he met a local pastor who happened to have a sweet and beautiful
young daughter named Barbara Coston. Barbara said, “We met, and it just went from there.” The end result, a 1953 wedding ceremony held at Rev. Coston’s church. That was just the beginning of the adventure for this young couple as they would make numerous moves and start a family of their own welcoming four boys: David, Mike, Richard and Ted.
Through the years, the Hills lived in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania all while Ted chased his dream of broadcasting and entrepreneurship.
Although the family didn’t live a lavish lifestyle, they always had what they needed – the love of two parents and two role models who taught them about the importance of faith, family, the value of hard work and sacrifice for others.
This family of six lived in small spaces and piled into small cars like the little BMW Isetta that Ted loved. What a sight! Six-people in a two-seater! Ted was also known to carefully put his boys in the book rack on the back of his Sear’s moped as he drove around the streets of Corpus Christi. A family of survivors, the entire Hill family endured Hurricane Beulah in south Texas in the late sixties. Although they lost everything, Ted did what he needed in order to provide for his family Thus, another move for the Hills.
Once Ted decided to push the microphone aside, he and Barbara retired to the Tulsa area where they could be closer to family and help spoil their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Papaw Ted was a man who loved to have fun and to laugh. He was known to make funny faces, use silly voices and tell corny jokes. More than anything, Ted loved his family and he loved the Lord. Although Ted signed off for the last time here on earth on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, his family takes great comfort in knowing that he is now in presence of his creator and Savior.
This loving husband, father, Papaw and brother will certainly be missed by those who knew and loved him, but his memory
will continue as they reflect and celebrate on the impact that his life has made. Ted is survived by his loving wife of more than 64 years, Barbara Hill of Broken Arrow; his sons: David Hill of Tulsa; Mike Hill and wife, Tania of Broken Arrow; Richard Hill of Waco, Texas and Dr. Ted Hill and wife, Irene of Bixby, Okla.; sister, Gloria Whitehouse of Pauls Valley;
10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Ted was preceded in death by: his parents; a brother, Truman and an infant son, John Mark.
