Ed Seward Hill

ED SEWARD HILL, age 78, of 22 Lee Road, Dryden, NY passed away peacefully under the care of Hospicare at Lakeside Nursing Home on Wednesday, December 21, 2005. Ed was born January 7, 1927 at Peruville, NY the son of John H. and Burdeene Call Wentz Hill. He grew up near Ed Hill Road which had been named after his grandfather, and was graduated from Groton High School in 1945. Enlisting in the US Army, he served in the Philippines and Korea at the end of World War II. Ed attended Cornell University and on August 5, 1950 was married to the former Margaret Gleason in the Methodist Church in Groton, In his early years he was employed at various jobs including the Town of Dryden, Perkins Funeral Home and eventually took full time employment with the United States Postal Service working under then Postmaster Raymond Liddington for many years until Ray retired. At that time Ed was named Officer-in-Charge and was eventually appointed Postmaster. He faithfully fulfilled his duties until retirement on Jan. 2nd, 1987 after 37 years of postal service. He returned to the workforce for 15 years as a teller at The First National Bank of Dryden. It has been quietly acknowledged around town that there should have been more people like Ed S. Hill. Many friends have said that he spent the government’s money as if it were his own and all who knew Ed well also know what that means. His memberships included The Neptune Hose Co. No. 1 of Dryden, Inc., Leonard T. Spaulding Post 1134, American Legion, Dryden Township Post #8158, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Dryden Lodge #472, F.&A.M., Scottish Rite Masonic Bodies, The Dryden Senior Citizens, The Dryden Township Historical Society, United Methodist Church of Dryden, Dryden Footlighters and the National Association of Postmasters (NAPUS). He served on the board of Directors of the Southworth Library for many years. In these organizations he was appreciated, frequently serving on executive boards. He was often chosen to be a leader and eventually would rise to positions of highest respect in all organizations in which he was involved. He was a Past Master and currently was secretary of the Masonic Lodge, a Past Fire Chief of the Dryden Fire Department, a Past Commander and a Past County Commander of the American Legion. He was the recipient of the Masonic Dedicated Service award and the Dryden Sertoma Club’s 1997 Service to Mankind Award. He was also the recipient of numerous Dryden Fire Department awards, and beyond all doubt a most trusted and respected member of the department. If you had only one friend in this life, you would want it to be Ed S. Hill. At the time of his admission to Hospicare he said with sincerity, "I did not realize that I had so many friends". Modest of his accomplishments and contributions to the community, if you were close to him, Ed would tell you that he was proudest of his family.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Margaret "Peg" Hill of Dryden; his daughter, Margaret Burdeene "Burdie" Hill of Piscataway, NJ and his son, John H. (Marsha) Hill of Las Vegas, NV; his older sister, Margaret Rose Carney of Summerfield, FL; two step-grandchildren; beloved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Francena B. Jacoby and his step-mother, Margaret Wentz Hill.

Memorial services will be at 11 AM Saturday January 7th, 2006 at the Perkins Funeral Home with Rev. Alan Kinney officiating. Friends are invited to call from 6 to 9 PM Friday, Jan. 6th at the funeral home, 55 West Main St., Dryden, NY. Masonic Services will be conducted by members of Dryden Lodge at 8:45 PM Friday, Jan 6th. Veterans will attend the funeral in a group. Burial will be at a later date in McLean Cemetery, McLean, NY. Memorials, in lieu of flowers, are directed to the Dryden Fire Department, P.O. 397, Dryden, NY 13053 or to Hospicare, 172 East King Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850.