EVA-MARIA HILL

She was born March 30, 1945 in Hamburg, Germany to Annemarie (nee Oestmann) and Richard D. Busch in the waning days of World War 2. At the age of 9, she, her parents, and her younger sister Evelyn emigrated to the United States in order to pursue the American Dream.

Eva had a precocious talent for communication and she quickly became proficient in English, grasping a deeper understanding and faculty of the language than most native speakers. She continued to cultivate her talent, pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree at the Universities of Maryland and Michigan, and ultimately obtaining a Master’s Degree in German Literature from the University of Michigan.

She met the love of her life, David P. Hill, on a blind date while living in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and they married in November of 1973. Virginia Beach was forever after a central place within the family mythology. They began their life together in Wheeling, West Virginia, where they started their family. Eva taught Physics and German at Mount DeChantal Academy, which had been an all-girls Catholic school in Wheeling. Mrs. Hill, as she was known, was popular among her students for her humorous and innovative approach to education, her personable nature, and her yearly tradition of inviting students to her home to make apple strudel for the annual holiday season bake sale.

After moving to Marietta, Ohio in the early 1990s, Eva pursued further education within the field of psychology, another of her passions. She received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Ohio University and spent many years as a therapist, helping those in distress. This was rewarding work for her, and she took pride in her successes, large and small.

Eva Hill was a sensitive, compassionate, imaginative, and deep thinking philosopher in the truest sense. She was someone who didn’t need fanfare or excitement to enjoy life, preferring the simple pleasures of daily routine and the ongoing presence of her loving husband and children. One of her favorite activities was to take long walks along the Muskingum or Ohio Rivers. More recently, she and her husband adopted a dog (Duncan), and found joy in taking him to the dog park to run, play, and chase tennis balls.

Eva was preceded in death by her Mother, Annemarie in 2001, and her Father, Richard, in 2004. She is survived by her loving Husband Dave, children Jason (fiancee Iryna and her daughter Yeva), Julia (husband Justin Fuhrman), and Marisa (husband Adam Bitz); grandchildren Everett and Adrian Hill; sister Evelyn Chase, and nephews Stefan and Andrew Chase. She is also survived by her relatives in Germany, Volker Busch, Peter and Gaby Busch, and Beate Busch (husband Wilfried Kreiner).

The Memorial Service will be held on February 22, 2025 at 1pm at Hadley Funeral Home, 1021 Pike Street, Marietta Ohio, 45750. We welcome any guest who is inclined to get up and say a few words about Eva and her impact on their lives.

In lieu of flowers, we invite donations to the Humane Society, or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.hadleyfh.com