On Friday, June 23, 2023 Chief Senior Master Sergeant Earl Duane Hillman passed away peacefully at home with his beloved daughter Susie by his side. Early that morning the clouds lifted and ushered him to Heaven.
Born on September 1, 1929 to Duane Hillman and Zoe Merriam Hillman, Earl was raised in Pleasant Hill, Illinois, where he graduated as class valedictorian in 1947. He went on to have a 24 year career in the United States Airforce as a flight engineer, where he flew over 14,000 combat hours between the Berlin Airlift and the Vietnam War. As a mark of honor for holding the most flight hours of any flight engineer, Earl was given the privilege of retrieving the Apollo 12 astronauts upon their landing in 1969.
In 1951 Earl met his wife, Jerrie Plunkett while on leave. He and Jerrie went on to have four children, Susie, Scott, Brenda and Kate. Earl was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Joy Hillman, two brothers, Frank and Dean, and a grandson, Jeremiah Kourbelas. He is survived by his children, seven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
Graveside services, with full military honors provided by the Scott Air Force Base Honor Guard, will be held Wednesday (6-28-23) at 10:00 a.m. at Crescent Heights Cemetery in Pleasant Hill. There is no visitation, however, friends are invited to the graveside service.
Born on September 1, 1929 to Duane Hillman and Zoe Merriam Hillman, Earl was raised in Pleasant Hill, Illinois, where he graduated as class valedictorian in 1947. He went on to have a 24 year career in the United States Airforce as a flight engineer, where he flew over 14,000 combat hours between the Berlin Airlift and the Vietnam War. As a mark of honor for holding the most flight hours of any flight engineer, Earl was given the privilege of retrieving the Apollo 12 astronauts upon their landing in 1969.
In 1951 Earl met his wife, Jerrie Plunkett while on leave. He and Jerrie went on to have four children, Susie, Scott, Brenda and Kate. Earl was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Joy Hillman, two brothers, Frank and Dean, and a grandson, Jeremiah Kourbelas. He is survived by his children, seven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
Graveside services, with full military honors provided by the Scott Air Force Base Honor Guard, will be held Wednesday (6-28-23) at 10:00 a.m. at Crescent Heights Cemetery in Pleasant Hill. There is no visitation, however, friends are invited to the graveside service.
On Friday, June 23, 2023 Chief Senior Master Sergeant Earl Duane Hillman passed away peacefully at home with his beloved daughter Susie by his side. Early that morning the clouds lifted and ushered him to Heaven.
Born on September 1, 1929 to Duane Hillman and Zoe Merriam Hillman, Earl was raised in Pleasant Hill, Illinois, where he graduated as class valedictorian in 1947. He went on to have a 24 year career in the United States Airforce as a flight engineer, where he flew over 14,000 combat hours between the Berlin Airlift and the Vietnam War. As a mark of honor for holding the most flight hours of any flight engineer, Earl was given the privilege of retrieving the Apollo 12 astronauts upon their landing in 1969.
In 1951 Earl met his wife, Jerrie Plunkett while on leave. He and Jerrie went on to have four children, Susie, Scott, Brenda and Kate. Earl was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Joy Hillman, two brothers, Frank and Dean, and a grandson, Jeremiah Kourbelas. He is survived by his children, seven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
Graveside services, with full military honors provided by the Scott Air Force Base Honor Guard, will be held Wednesday (6-28-23) at 10:00 a.m. at Crescent Heights Cemetery in Pleasant Hill. There is no visitation, however, friends are invited to the graveside service.
Born on September 1, 1929 to Duane Hillman and Zoe Merriam Hillman, Earl was raised in Pleasant Hill, Illinois, where he graduated as class valedictorian in 1947. He went on to have a 24 year career in the United States Airforce as a flight engineer, where he flew over 14,000 combat hours between the Berlin Airlift and the Vietnam War. As a mark of honor for holding the most flight hours of any flight engineer, Earl was given the privilege of retrieving the Apollo 12 astronauts upon their landing in 1969.
In 1951 Earl met his wife, Jerrie Plunkett while on leave. He and Jerrie went on to have four children, Susie, Scott, Brenda and Kate. Earl was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Joy Hillman, two brothers, Frank and Dean, and a grandson, Jeremiah Kourbelas. He is survived by his children, seven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
Graveside services, with full military honors provided by the Scott Air Force Base Honor Guard, will be held Wednesday (6-28-23) at 10:00 a.m. at Crescent Heights Cemetery in Pleasant Hill. There is no visitation, however, friends are invited to the graveside service.
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