Robert A. Hiller

April 21, 1931 — Sept. 20, 2010 After a 10-year fight, Robert Arlen Hiller died of prostate and bone cancer Monday, Sept. 20, 2010. He was surrounded by his family. Bob was born April 21, 1931, in Corvallis to Daniel Hiller and Clara Scheele Hiller. He had one brother, Dan Jr., who predeceased him. He attended school in Corvallis, and graduated from Corvallis High School in 1949. He was briefly married and had a daughter, Kathleen. He married Janice I. Farrier, who became his second wife, on July 29, 1961. They had two children, David and Michael, both of Corvallis. Mike and his wife, Becky, have two children, Nathan and Erin. Bob’s father owned and ran the first motorized bus line in Corvallis from 1928 until 1958. The bus ran downtown, out Monroe Avenue to the Oregon State campus, and out to 35th Street and Harrison Boulevard. Bob took over the business, and worked 11 hours a day, seven days a week as a driver, mechanic and detailer. He owned a service station in Lebanon, and later worked at several service stations in the area. Bob’s parents used to open their home to soldiers from the Camp Adair Army base. They would feed them and then take city kids to the farms and show them their first cows! Bob loved to ski, and learned when he was 6 years old. He used to drive to Portland and go dancing. On May 30, 1948, he and a friend had driven up for dancing, and ended up helping desperate people escape the Vanport Flood. One time Bob went to The Cottonwoods in Lebanon to hear a new singer, and thought he was pretty good. Turns out Bob’s musical ear was right on, because Elvis Presley later became a huge hit! Bob loved to eat at Darrell’s Restaurant in Corvallis, and Bing’s Kitchen in Lebanon. Bob loved to drive around and sightsee. Bob and Jan drove all around the United States. Bob worked for many establishments: Conser Homes; Roseburg Lumber Mill; Standard Oil in Roseburg; Nix Trucking; Brown Company, a pipe manufacturer; and Lucky Boy Mine, a gold mine. He had various truck-driving jobs (lumber, chips, etc.). Both Bob and Jan worked for a number of years as apartment managers, starting in Corvallis at The Corvalla, then moving to the Tigard and Beaverton areas and managing several complexes there. Bob was a member of the Corvallis Elks and Moose lodges for more than 30 years. After Bob and Jan retired, they traveled in a fifth-wheel for 10 years. Later they bought a motor home and spent winters in Yuma and Scottsdale, Ariz., returning to Corvallis or Portland for the summers. In 2002, they moved back to Corvallis. A viewing will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30, at McHenry Funeral Home. A graveside service is set for 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 1. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at Northwest Hills Community Church, 3300 N.W. Walnut Blvd. in Corvallis. Pastor Curt Nelson will officiate. In lieu of gifts, please give generously to Benton Hospice Service.

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Robert A. Hiller

April 21, 1931 - September 20, 2010