Wade Paul Hill

July 11, 1920 — June 17, 2014

Wade Hill, of Friday Harbor, Wash., passed away at his home, as he wished.

He was born in San Francisco, Calif. and grew up in West Los Angeles, when it was still covered in orange groves. He attended UCLA, transferring to Cal Berkley, where he received a degree in mechanical engineering.

Wade was a flight engineer on a B-29 crew off Saipan flying 30 missions over mainland Japan during WWII. He married Robyn Lyford on June 10, 1944 in Pratt, Kan. while on leave (he had to go AWOL to do so!). They remained married until her death in 2004.

A daughter, Elizabeth, grandsons Emmet, Jordan and Evan and great-granddaughter Phoenix survive them. Their oldest daughter, Pamela passed away in 2002.

Wade’s great passion in life was yacht racing and in this he was very successful. He was on the winning Trans-Pac boat, a Cal 40, Psyche in 1968. He has sailed many boats, winning many races in many places. He also was avid ham radio operator and continued participating in a “net” daily until his death.

Details of a Celebration of a Life well-lived are pending.

— Family of Wade Hill