Thurman "Ted" Evans Hillis, born
July 18, 1941 to William Arthur and Arbie Evans Hillis at home on
Plum Bayou, Pulaski County, Arkansas, passed away on Saturday,
July 11, 2015 at home in Argyle, Texas
Ted and his family moved to the San Joaquin Valley in California in
1947. He enlisted in the US Navy in July, 1958 and was stationed at
Harbor Defense Unit, on Point Loma, CA. He was transferred to the
Recommissioning Crew at the San Diego Naval Station in October
1959 and in December of the same year traveled to Bremerton, WA
via the USS Barrett where they boarded the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43)
and commissioned the ship in January 1960. He made two Far East
cruises and was awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal; National
Defense Medal; Navy Expeditionary Medal and the Vietnam Service
Medal. After his service he received the Cold War Medal from the
Secretary of Defense. He was honorably discharged in 1962 and
returned home where he began his career in law enforcement with
the Merced Police Department as a patrolman and detective. He was
also a patrol inspector with the US Border Patrol in Calexico, CA. His
career with the the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad began
in1971 in Fresno, CA . He completed several supervisory positions;
Special Agent in San Francisco, Division SA in both LaJunta, CO and
Corwith; inspector in Topeka, KS and retired as Superintendent of
Police Dept. from AT&SF. After his retirement from Santa Fe, he was
a Special Agent with the Houston Belt and Terminal Railroad Police
Department until it was acquired by the Union Pacific Railroad. He
retired from the Union Pacific Railroad Police Department as a
Captain in January, 2007. Ted attended universities in California,
Colorado, Illinois and Texas. He graduated from the Police Academy
in Modesto, CA and Border Patrol Academy at Los Fresnos, Texas.
He completed his degree at Wayland Baptist University where he
earned a BS in Criminal Justice.
Ted and his wife, Beth, loved to travel and only had 10 states left to
visit in the USA. Their favorite place to be was on a beach. He also
enjoyed fishing and doing volunteer work after his retirement. He
was with Tarrant County as a Child Advocate; US Coast Guard
Auxiliary; N. Richland Hills Police Dept., Denton Police Dept. and an
active member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 920,
Denton, Texas where he served two terms as Vice President and
served as a Director with the Green Valley Historical Society.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his twin brother Herman,
and brothers, Leonard, Olen, Edgar and Cecil; sisters, Floy Olive,
Geraldine Brown and Sarah Daley.
He is survived by his wife, Beth of Argyle, his brother, Jerry and
Paulette Hillis of Turlock, CA; his sisters, Marvel Hill and Gene of
Wister, OK, and Estelle Rosenbaum of Riverside, CA. Ted's son,
David Hillis, Midpines, CA, daughters Theresa Hillis, Spicer, MN,
Stephanie Pilger and Glen, Goose Creek, SC; step-daughters Kellye
Baum and Jeb, Argyle, TX and Amy Kuniyoshi and Kimi of Big Pine
Key, FL. Grandsons, Scott, Jake, Tom, Trey, Jared, Brandon, Jaxon
and granddaughter, Gracie and great granddaughter Ella. Many
loving nephews, nieces and cousins as well as many friends.
We would like to thank all of the 'Band of Brothers' at 920 for their
love and support. We wish to give special thanks to Ted's VBFF,
Gary Raines, and his family, for blessing Ted, and all of us, with the
true meaning of friendship.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday July 17, 2015 at the Green Valley Schoolhouse, 6900 F.M. 2153 Aubrey, TX 76227 with Chaplain Tom Silva officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the
Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 920, Scholarship Fund, P.O.
Box 241, Denton, TX 76202. http://www.greenvalleyshs.org/
contact.htm