Arthur E. Hill Jr.

KENNEBUNK – Arthur E. Hill Jr. passed away on Feb. 7, 2025, five days short of his 94th birthday surrounded by family. So fitting of his character, he breathed his last and quietly mouthed “Amen”, as the last words of the 23rd Psalm were recited before him.

Born in the depths of the depression on Feb. 12, 1931 in Denver, Colo., he was the younger of two children of Arthur Hill Sr., born in a sod home in Oklahoma Territory, and Fay (Matthews) Hill from Dalhart, Texas.

After high school, he enrolled at the University of Colorado in Boulder graduating third in his class in 1952 with a BS in Aeronautical Engineering. Following graduation, he accepted a position with North American Aviation in California. After a short stay there, he went looking for adventure and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Wearing glasses since childhood prevented him from becoming the aviator he would have loved, but he proudly served alongside those fighter planes as a flight deck officer aboard the USS Shangri-La from 1952 to 1955.

It was in the Navy that he met the love of his life, JoAnn Roberts of Skowhegan who served as a corpsman in the Navy hospital. Following a whirlwind six-month romance, they were married on Aug. 14, 1954. This past August they celebrated their 70th Anniversary.

In June 1955, while stationed in Coronado, Calif., they welcomed their daughter, Glema Fay. Upon discharge from the Navy, the family moved to Maine for a brief period where they added their son, Aaron, to the family. The family then returned back to California.

Back at North American Aviation, Art was heavily involved in the research, development, and testing of the X-15 aircraft. To this day, the X-15 holds the record as the fastest manned aircraft ever to fly. Avco Missile Systems in Wilmington, Mass. next captured Art’s talents where he began work in 1961. Although continuously approached and propositioned by aerospace competitors such as Boeing and GE for his intelligence, integrity, and well known respect in the industry, he remained loyal to Avco (later Textron) for the next 30 years. There, he oversaw missile system programs such as “Pave Pepper” and MX from conceptual design and bid stage, to awarding of government contract, and finally to oversight and direction of production and testing. He became a familiar regular at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California where Avco would launch their “birds”.

As respected as he was in the industry, he was probably even more respected in the community. He was our Cub Scout leader and Little League coach for years. He was the dad who taught the kids in the neighborhood to play kick the can, made s’mores with us all, and the dad that took us kids on Saco River canoe trips. He was the one the neighborhood kids asked to write college recommendation letters on their behalf. He was the grandfather that made handmade rocking horses for all his grandchildren.

Once retired and settled in South Paris, he served as Town Selectman, filled in as Building Inspector, and was active in the Masons, Lions, American Legion and an active member at First Congregational Church in South Paris..

Integrity, honesty, morality, humility, and deep faith defined him. It’s no small coincidence that he shared his birthday with Abraham Lincoln.

In addition to his wife, JoAnn, he leaves behind his daughter, Glema Coughlin and her husband Paul, son, Aaron and his wife Mary; grandson, Justin and his wife Meghan along with her son Gabe; grandson, Jordan and his wife Marina along with their children Benjamin and Josie; and granddaughters Sarah and Alisha.

Art was so very much beloved, respected and admired by all who knew him, and his absence leaves a void only God and time can heal.

A memorial service for Art will be held at the First Congregational Church in South Paris on Sunday, June 29 at 1 p.m. All are invited to attend.