Aloa Farris Hill

Abingdon, VA - Aloa Farris Hill, age 93, passed away peacefully on Saturday April 14, 2018, at Abingdon Health and Rebab Center, Abingdon, VA.  Three of her children and her son-in-law were close by her side. Others were with her in spirit and by phone.  Aloa was born on June 12, 1924 in Henrytown, Smyth County, Virginia, the daughter of David Washington Farris and Viola Arnold Farris. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Emory A. Hill, Sr. and her brother, Gola David Farris.  Aloa is survived by her four children: Donna Hill LeVine, Emory A. Hill Jr., Sarah Jane Hill Williams (Jenny) and Aloa Lynn Hill Ellis.  She has one daughter-in-law, Linda Counts Hill and one son-in-law, Joseph W. LeVine.  There are six grandchildren and three great grandchildren along with numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Aloa grew up in Henrytown, living there until her family moved to Glade Spring, VA when she was 18. She attended Henrytown’s small two-room school until 7th grade and graduated from Saltville High School.On June 28, 1947, Aloa married the love of her life, Emory Akers Hill from Emory, VA. She lived the life of a high school teacher and coach’s wife, first residing in East Stone Gap and then in Glade Spring. She worked several jobs including managing the switchboard at Johnston Memorial Hospital and administrative assistant at Emory and Henry College but Aloa always felt it was most important to be the best possible mother.  In that she succeeded beyond measure. The family enjoyed attending Byars Cobb Memorial United Methodist Church in Glade Spring, where they were members.From earliest childhood Aloa loved the outdoors.  She loved tending her flowers and her vegetable gardens.  With Emory’s help she planted seeds, pulled weeds, harvested crops. She spent many days every summer canning and freezing huge quantities of produce. The family loved her cooking and benefited from a true farm-to-table lifestyle long before anyone knew the health benefits. She also loved weaving baskets, looking for unusual rocks, arrowheads and seashells at the beach.   She was an avid reader and a writer of poetry, essays, and short stories.  Some of her writings were published.  Perhaps her favorite activities were drawing and painting.  She was talented and worked to increase her skills by attending classes and lots of practice.  Aloa was a member of the former Cave House artists’ coop and won many awards and ribbons at local shows. After Emory retired, he and Aloa spent many happy hours together searching for treasures at yard sales and in antique stores.  The gardens were smaller by then and they didn’t have as many mouths to feed.If you had an opportunity to visit Aloa at Abingdon Health and Rehab you would almost certainly have heard her favorite words that were spoken many times a day:  “I love you!  I love you all!” Aloa’s family would like to thank the loving and skilled employees of Abingdon Health and Rehab for the professional care they showed to Aloa while she was a resident, especially in her last days. A Celebration of Life service will be held at noon on Saturday, April 28, 2018, at Byars Cobb Memorial United Methodist Church in Glade Spring, VA, with Pastor Paul T. Griffith officiating.  Interment will follow at Mount Rose Cemetery, Glade Spring, VA.  Family and friends are invited to return to the church for a reception.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Byars Cobb Memorial United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 667, Glade Spring, VA  24340.  Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guest register.The family of Aloa Farris Hill is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, (276) 623-2700.