V.M. Hill

Viness Monroe "Coach" Hill Jr., 84, of Bridgeport, Texas died Sunday, September 1, 2013 in Bridgeport. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM Wednesday, September 4, 2013 at the First Baptist Church of Bridgeport with burial in the East Bridgeport Cemetery. Pastor Joey Vick will officiate. A final tribute with military honors will be presented by the Wise County Veterans Group Honor Guard. Pallbearers include Cyril Gloria, Bill Johnson, Ray Freeman, Bobby Steph, Eddie Huckabee and Doug Spillers. It was his wish that all the athletes who had played for him be considered his honorary pallbearers. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Tuesday, September 3, 2013 at Jones Family Funeral Home in Bridgeport. "Coach" Hill was born July 15, 1929 at home seven miles south of Stratford, Oklahoma to Myrtle (Johnson) and Monroe Hill. He received both his Bachelors’ and Masters’ degree from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. He married Loretta Mae Owens on December 23, 1953 in Ada. He began teaching in 1955. “Coach” Hill was a teacher and coach in the Eureka Schools in Baker, Oklahoma, the Alvord Schools and the Bridgeport Schools in Texas. Together he and his wife devoted eighty-eight years of service to educating young people. He retired in May 1988 but continued to teach shop in Bridgeport on a half-time basis until 1993. He was a member of the Bridgeport First Baptist Church and served in the Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict. He operated a woodworking shop “Hilbilt” until a stroke in July 1994 left him unable to walk. He still managed to garden and mow using a riding lawnmower and tractor. He is survived by his wife, Loretta Hill of Bridgeport; son, Randy Hill and wife Cindy of Devine, Texas; daughter, Vinessa Archer and husband Dwight of Bridgeport; granddaughters Lacy Barrett of Bridgeport, Stony Liles of Glen Rose, Texas and her children Killian and Macy, Dallas Taylor and her husband Matt of Bridgeport and their children Mayson and Micah, Carlie Archer of Lamesa, Texas and Lorenda Archer of Tulsa, Oklahoma and grandson, Cory Hill of Alpine, Texas and his daughter Amelia; brother Cletius Hill and wife Joy of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; sister, Gladys Mercer of Moore, Oklahoma; and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents.