Robert G. Hile, Sr., 88, of Chicora, PA, went home to be with the Lord Friday, November 1, 2024, surrounded by family after a brief stay at Allegheny General Hospital with a wonderful palliative/hospice care team.
Robert was the eldest son of the late Oliver G. and M. Grace McElravy Hile.
He went to the Army prior to graduation where he served for three years. He met and then married the love of his life, Kay Bowser Hile, on February 6, 1959. They went on to celebrate 58 years of marriage together.
When the couple welcomed their firstborn daughter, Tamara, Bob had started his first job at Freddie’s TV Repair Shop in Karns City. He then relocated his family to Levittown, where his son, Robert Jr., and youngest daughter, Cynthia, were born.
In Levittown, Bob was first employed at Cargoes Candy Company where his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Reverend George and Doretha Bowser were employed. He then went on to work at Patterson Parchment Paper Company until he decided to relocate his family back to his hometown. Upon returning home, Bob worked at his Uncle Lester’s Esso Station until his employment with the Koppers/Indespec Chemical Plant in Petrolia. He became a certified electrician which he acquired through Butler County Community College, and he retired from the plant in 1998.
Bob and Kay enjoyed traveling, taking family vacation trips to the Jersey Shore, Gettysburg, and annual trips to the International General Assembly of the Church of God of Prophecy held in Cleveland, Tennessee. They especially enjoyed a special Disney World trip to Florida with some of their grandchildren. One highlighted vacation trip was to Hawaii with some of their lifelong friends. Bob and Kay were snowbirds in Arizona for several winters. Bob’s latest favorite activity was dancing and socializing with friends in Chicora at the Grange and East Butler. He was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy, Family Life Ministries of Butler where his son and daughter-in-law co-pastor.
Bob is survived by three children, Tammy and Charlie Croyle of Karns City, Bishop Robert Hile Jr. and wife Reverend Bonnie Hile of Parker, and Cindy and Dan “Boone” Ekis of Karns City. Bob was blessed to have eight grandchildren, Justin and Lacey Croyle, Totiana, Robert III, Adam, and Aberia Hile, and DJ and Shalisa Ekis. Bob was also blessed with 20 great grandchildren. Also surviving is his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Barbara Hile of Chicora, Darlene and Reverend William Foley of Virginia, and Sonia and Kurt Stang of Apollo.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, William J. “Bill” Hile and Barry L. Hile; a sister-in-law, Lucy Dollar, and his in-laws, Reverend George and Doretha Bowser.
Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Rd., Chicora, from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday and from 11 a.m. – 12 Noon on Wednesday. A funeral service will be held from the funeral home at 12 Noon Wednesday with the Rev. Roy Tilton, retired Church of God of Prophecy pastor, officiating. Members of the Chicora and Bradys Bend American Legion Posts will conduct a memorial service at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday. Interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery, Sugarcreek Twp., Armstrong Co.
Memorial donations may be made to Family Life Ministries 932 Mercer Road, Butler, PA, 16001 or AHN Palliative/Hospice Care, 200 Allegheny Dr. # 201, Warren, PA 15086.
Condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.
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