Robert "Craig" Hill

Robert Craig Hill, 68 of Harrisburg, NC passed away peacefully on Monday, June 14, 2021 at Novant Health Harris Hospice surrounded by family & friends.

The son of Lorraine and Earl Hill, he was raised with a sister Susan and brother Doug in the Enderly Park neighborhood, a true Westside Charlottean.  Growing up, he was active in Boy Scouts, baseball, and developed his love of cars.  At 19, Craig joined the US Air Force to follow a cousin’s advice to seek adventure and glory only to end up painting airplanes in England.  However, being stationed there brought the opportunity to experience some great rock concerts which fueled his passion for music for the rest of his life.  After returning to the states, Craig met the love of his life, Jeanni, on a camping trip at the Highland Games. Though some doubted the relationship would last, Jeanni and Craig’s love not only persevered but flourished through 44 years of marriage proving everybody wrong.

The births of Jacob and Baily completed their family.  Many years were spent on the baseball and softball fields coaching kids. Sadly Jacob passed away at age 23. As grievous and unrepairable as this loss was, over time, it caused the family to bond even closer.

Craig had an extensive career of 42 years with L & H Technologies where he worked his way up, becoming an expert in hydraulics and traveled the world.  Admired by so many, his contributions will be forever remembered.

Outside of work, most friends knew Craig as “George”, proprietor of the Cutrate Armadillo Farm, and appreciated his humor and “Craigisms”, and his quiet and gentle way with people. The man could fix anything.  His engineering mind and welding ability drew him to the art of stain glass making where he created many pieces of art.  Craig was a member of the Harrisburg Cruisers where he proudly showed his yellow 72 Chevy Nova SS.

Surviving Craig are his wife Jeanni Whiteside Hill, daughter Baily and husband Donald Sumrell,  5 grandchildren, Chase, Brett, Brody, Wyatt, Gavin, mother Lorraine Love, and  sister Susan Hill Postell, and numerous nieces/nephews,  sisters/brothers in laws.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm - 6:15 pm, Friday, June 18, 2021 at Hartsell Funeral Home of Harrisburg. The memorial service will be on Friday at 6:30 pm at Hartsell Funeral Home  in Harrisburg, officiated by Pastor Mike Tony.  Webcasting will start at 6:15 PM at the following link: http://video.ibm.com/channel/drygeSYpxX7

The family would like to thank Dr. Newman and staff at Novant Health Cancer Institute, Dr. Kathryn Mileham at Levine Cancer Institute, and those at Novant Health Harris Hospice.

Craig once posted “Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting “holy shit…. what a ride” and he did….just that.

Memorials may be made to Novant Health Harris Hospice, 200 Hawthorne Lane, Charlotte, NC 28204/ http://donate.novanthealth.org/redirect.aspx?&linkID=36&post_id=0 OR American Cancer Society at https://donate3.cancer.org/

Hartsell Funeral Home of Harrisburg is serving the Hill family.