Hillis Boothman, 78

Hillis DuWayne Boothman, Sr., age 78, of Pioneer, Ohio made his trip to Heaven Wednesday, October 9, 2013. He had been in a battle with cancer for six months and recently was a resident of Genesis Health Care in Bryan.

Hillis D. Boothman was born on January 17, 1935, in Montpelier, Ohio, the son of Roland Eugene and Geneva Pearl (Cook) Boothman. He graduated from Montpelier High School and was an avid Locomotives and North Central Eagles fan. Hillis married Rose Marie Flightner on August 13, 1953 in Angola, Indiana and she survives. They were able to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary together.

Hillis was a man that made you smile. His eyes would shine like diamonds when he laughed. He could light up a room with his smile and laughter. As one of his nieces said, “Uncle Hillis always made you feel like a million bucks after talking to him.” He had the gift of kindness and laughter. He was a good man, who believed in helping others and certainly did with his delivery of donuts to several areas in Pioneer or his delivery of candy to his nurses in the chemo lab or his delivery of chocolate and ice cream to the nurses at Genesis. He loved life.

Hillis worked for several years on the Wabash Railroad as a telegrapher and spent many years as a widely known monogram torch cutter at Challenge Cook Brothers in Bryan, Ohio. He then went to Aro Corporation in Bryan and worked there as a machinist for 30 years. Hillis loved the outdoors and instructed the first Hunter Safety course in Williams County. He was a devout man of God and believed whole-heartedly in helping others, so much so, that he was elected as Grand Marshal of the Pioneer parade.

Hillis is also survived by his wife, Rosie; children, Pamela (Michael) Baker, of Pioneer, Hillis (Sandi) Boothman, Jr., of Camden, Michigan, Cherie (Charles) Francis, of Ney, Ohio, Lori (Randy) Beck, of Stryker, Ohio and Joel (Leigh) Boothman, of Pioneer; 10 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren and sisters, Carolyn (Richard) Downing, of Pioneer and JoAnn Boothman, of Edgerton. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son Roland, twins and a brother, Bob Boothman.

A Celebration of Hillis’ life will be held Sunday, October 13, 2013 from 1:00-3:00 P.M. in the Krill Funeral Home, 860 West Mulberry Street, Bryan. A Memorial Gathering with food and fellowship will be held on Sunday from 4:00-6:00 P.M. at the Pioneer Community Center. Because education was so important to Hillis, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the North Central Schools.