Virgil B. Hill

Virgil B. Hill passed away peacefully on Monday, November 24, 2025. Virgil was a loved and admired husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and loyal friend. He is survived by his devoted wife Joan Hill (nee Hubbard) and his daughter Jennifer (Jim) Cunnane. He was preceded in death by two of his children: Stephen and Victoria, whose memories remained close in both Virgil and Joan’s heart. He leaves behind a growing family of grandchildren and their spouses, each of whom he loved deeply: Michael (Laura) Hill, Matthew (Christine) Hill, Connor Hill, Victoria Cunnane, Cade Cunnane, and Brendan Cunnane - and great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Gabriel, Henry, Anna, and Evelyn, all of whom brought him tremendous joy. He grew up in Festus, MO, with his sister Virginia, and their parents, Clark and Leona. By working his way through school, Virgil earned a Chemistry degree from the University of Missouri. After college, he served two years of active duty in the U.S. Army and later continued his service in the National Guard, where he became an Artillery Captain. He went on to earn his law degree from St Louis University. Virgil married Joan Hubbard, the love of his life. They raised three children and shared 64 years of a devoted, loving partnership. Family was everything to him, and he proudly embraced the nickname "Papa," given by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Virgil enjoyed a distinguished career – beginning as a chemist for the Food and Drug Administration, followed by years in research and development, and culminating in his long tenure as a patent attorney at Ralston Purina. Trout fishing and golf were two of Virgil’s greatest joys. He explored nearly every stream in Missouri and Arkansas and made annual trips with friends to Montana, happily fishing from sunrise till nightfall. A devoted sports fan, he cheered for the St Louis Cardinals and Blues. He especially loved football - he remained a loyal New York Giants supporter and endured more Dallas Cowboy games than he ever cared to, thanks to his son Stephen and grandsons Michael, Matthew, and Connor. When he wasn’t outdoors or watching a game, Virgil loved history books, biographies, and classic films, and Big Band music – he never passed up a chance to dance. Above all, he treasured listening to family stories and watching his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow. Anyone who knew him knew about his sweet tooth – especially his love for long john donuts. He always said they were “for the kids”, but everyone knew better. A memorial will be held on Saturday, November 29, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Meadowbrook Country Club, 200 Meadowbrook Country Club Estates, Ballwin, MO. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Assistance League of St Louis, 30 Henry Ave, Ellisville, MO, https://www.alstl.org/ or Fathers & Families Support Center, 1601 Olive St, St Louis, MO, https://fatherssupportcenter.org/

Virgil B. Hill

November 21, 1939 - November 24, 2025