Theodore D. Hill, Jr., 82, passed away on January 23, 2026, in the company and care of his wife Melba Hill (Coughlin) in the comfort of their home. Ted, as he was lovingly called, was born on August 23, 1943, in Columbus, Ohio, to the late Theodore D. Hill and Sylvia Howard Hill.

Ted is survived by Melba, his wife of 43 years and the love of his life. He will also be remembered with love by his 5 younger siblings Anne Hill Hastings (Peter), Elaine Hill DeVennish (Bock), Howard Hill (Lucy), Cortland Hill (Nina Jaffe), Deborah Hill McAlpin (Scott); many nieces and nephews; his 8 children Michelle Hill Pfeifer (Mark), Shane Kent (Nicole), Theodore D. Hill, III (Amy), James Hill (Michelle), Chad Kent (Brittani), Laurel Hill, David Hill (Rebecca), Michael Hill (Cathy); and his 30 grandchildren Aidan, Aisling, Alex, Brenna, Cameron, Duncan, Eli, Emilia, Jaime, Jenna, Kai, Lauren, Lily, Maeve, Maihley, Marlee, Mason, Mea, Meghan, Phaedra, Ranger, Reese, Rylee, Symi, Teddy, Tessa, Theo, Turner, Tyler, Wesley.

Ted grew up in Berlin Heights, Ohio, and graduated from Western Reserve Academy in 1961. Ted attended Oberlin College before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in November 1964; he was later accepted into the Naval Aviation Cadet Program. Ted earned his Naval Aviator wings and his officer commission in December 1966 and was subsequently qualified to fly the A-1H/J Skyraider. Among Ted's notable assignments were flying the Skyraider, also dubbed the "Spad", with VA-25 (Attack Squadron 25) "Fist of the Fleet" aboard USS Coral Sea (CV 43), flying the A-7B Corsair aboard USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14); serving as an A-7E Corsair II instructor pilot with VA-122 (Attack Squadron 122) "Flying Eagles" in Lemoore, California; serving two deployments aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63); working as a Rating Assignment Officer at Bureau of Naval Personnel; leading VA-113 (Attack Squadron 113) "Stingers" as Executive Officer, later Commanding Officer aboard USS Ranger (CV 61); choreographing carrier logistics and schedules as Air Operations Officer, later Operations Officer aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70); working with the War Gaming Department at Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island; serving as assistant Chief of Staff, Operations and Plans, Commander, Carrier Group 8; bearing full responsibility for USS Savannah (AOR 4) as her Commanding Officer; serving as Head of Manpower and Personnel CINCLANTFLT; finally retiring as Chief of Staff COMCRUDESGRU 8.

A man of "understated delivery", Ted shared sea stories only on rare occasions. But at least two of his exploits can be found in history books - one, a testament to the importance of air support to American ground troops; the other, a milestone in the evolution of carrier aviation. The National Naval Aviation Museum shares the highlights of Ted's role in the capstone attack mission of the U.S. Navy's Skyraider fleet on February 20, 1968. The museum website details the day that Ted launched from the USS Coral Sea (CV 43) and spent 4.5 hours providing "rescue combat air patrol covering a helicopter at the site of a downed F-4 Phantom II and supported troops at Khe Sahn." A few months later, on April 10, 1968, Ted ferried this same aircraft, side number 405, to NAS Pensacola and retired this propellor-driven workhorse.

Captain Theodore D. Hill, Jr., retired from the U.S. Navy in January 1995 following a distinguished and accomplished 30-year career. During his service, Ted was certified to fly all models of the A-7 Corsair II and logged 3,000+ flight hours, over 384 combat missions, and 650+ carrier landings. For his valor, outstanding achievements, and meritorious service, Ted was recognized with awards including the Legion of Merit (3), Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal (9), Air Medal (Strike/Flight) with numeral 35, Meritorious Service Medal (3) with Valor, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation (2), Navy Unit Commendation Medal (2), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Battle "E" Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal (2), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (5), Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Gold Star, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, and Expert Pistol Medal.

Ted earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Troy State University at Montgomery, Alabama, in 1974, and a Master of Business Administration from Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island, in 1987.

Ted followed military service with 13 years of Navy-related contract work for Northrop Grumman Corporation. During this time, Ted and Melba made their home in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where they focused on raising their teenagers and attending as many of their high school sporting events and extra-curricular activities as they could.

In 1998, Ted and Melba moved to a peaceful peninsula on the shore of Western Branch Reservoir in Suffolk, Virginia - a dream property for them both. Ted and Melba enjoyed hosting their friends and family in Suffolk as often as they could. Dozens of warm and wonderful events were held in this home. Ted and Melba managed to provide delicious meals and happy memories for seemingly impossibly large numbers of guests. It was at this wooded waterfront retreat that their children and grandchildren were blessed with formative memories and family bonds.

Ted supported many worthwhile causes including Guiding Eyes for the Blind and was a Virginia Master Gardener. Ted was also a lifetime member of the Tidewater Turners of Virginia from its early days until his passing. He joined the club in the 1990s and was the treasurer during its formative years. Much of the way it operates can be attributed to him. He will be remembered for his participation in the team that built a full-sized spinning wheel that was an important part of the club's public demonstration.

As an avid woodturner and a patient and passionate craftsman, Ted shared his love of woodworking whenever he could. He would often guide his children and grandchildren through hands-on lessons in lathe turning, precise joinery, beautiful wood finishing, and top-quality home repairs. From desks and bookshelves to decks and sheds, Ted instilled in others both practical abilities and also a deep appreciation for woodcraft and working together.

Ted loved being outdoors, enjoyed reading, and frequently listened to audio books as he and Melba traveled around the United States and Canada. While he was a man with many interests, Ted found his true calling in caring for his wife and family and, given the size of their brood, this could be quite time-consuming. However, whenever needed, Ted would set aside personal interests, leisure activities, recreational travel, and his own house repairs to be present for each of his children and their families. And present he was! He delighted in teaching and mentoring. Any attentive listener was shown how to use and care for power tools, operate tractors, fix cars, paddle canoes, tie smart knots, split and stack cords of wood, build and tend fires, renovate a house, or play games (cribbage, bridge, spades, euchre, and chess were family favorites).

Ted will be remembered as the quintessential patriarch - provider, protector, mentor, role model, counselor, champion, builder, fixer, helper. A charismatic man and natural leader, Ted showed his family how to stand in and stand up for one another, to love passionately, to embrace life, to appreciate every day, and to fight for every last breath.

Ted was a good friend, awesome brother, devoted husband, loving father, and unforgettable grandfather. He will be missed by many.

Family and close friends will honor Ted's life on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 1:00 pm, at Parr Funeral Home & Crematory. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the Tidewater Turners of Virginia, c/o Bruce Burkett, 7161 Crittenden Rd. Suffolk, VA 23432 (annotate the check "In memory of Ted Hill") or the Suffolk Public Library https://www. suffolkpubliclibrary .com/153/Friends-of-the-Library .

Condolences may be shared through Parr Funeral Home online at www.parrfuneralhome.com .