With sadness we share the news of the passing of Lt. Col. (Ret.) James L. Hile, age 96, on Thursday, November 13. James was the father of the Rev. Deacon Jeanette Hile, who serves at House of the Good Shepherd in Hackettstown.
Born on July 10, 1918 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of the late Olivia D. and Charles L, Hile, James was raised in Louisville KY. He attended the NY School of Fine and Industrial Arts and the New School and became a pioneer in the field of commercial art now known as graphic art.
During WWII he served as a Technical Sergeant in the US Army and was stationed at Washington & Lee University and the Pentagon.
In 1947 James married Carolyn Dowling. They were married for 52 years before her passing.
James continued to serve his country in as a Lt. Col. in the Civil Air Patrol where he flew over 50 missions. He received the awards of Arts & Letters, Unit Citations and the Commendation Medal for his service for WWII. He also served in the civil defense program during the Cuban Missile crisis.
In 1999 he received the title of official Kentucky Colonel from the governor of Kentucky.
As a commercial artist, James did illustrations for the 1945 World Book Encyclopedia, plus live on air artwork for the first TV coverage of the 1948 Republican and Democratic Conventions. In addition, he served as ad designer for Life Magazine, McGraw Hill Publishers and Johnson & Johnson. He continued painting, carving and gardening until his passing.
A resident of Montville Twp. for over 65 years, he served his community as a member of the Board of Education for 12 years. In addition he put his talents to work many times in creating various signs for the Church of the Transfiguration in Towaco, NJ where his late wife Carolyn was organist and choir director for many years.
James is predeceased by his beloved wife Carolyn and son James D. Hile.
In addition to his daughter the Rev. Deacon Jeanette Hile, James is survived by his daughter Lynne Harty and her husband David of West Va.; his daughter-in-law Carol G. Hile of Fairlawn, NJ.; his beloved grandchildren James D. Jr., Julianne and her husband Chris, Alan and his wife Brandy, Thomas, Sarah and his first great grandchild Connor. In addition he leaves his nephews Charles and Robert Storrs and his sister-in-law, Jeanette O'Donnell and her family.
A private in burial will occur at later a date.
Condolences may be sent to:
The Rev. Deacon Jeanette Hile
16 Day Road
Landing, NJ 07850-1709
Lord, for your faithful people life is changed, not ended.
When the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death
we gain an everlasting dwelling place in heaven.
Lord, grant eternal rest, forever in the radiance of your light.
Amen.
