CW4 Maudie E. (Peggy) Hill, US Army Retired

CW4 Maudie E. (Peggy) Hill, US Army Retired; Maudie Laura Ellen (Peggy) Hill, age 86, joyfully escaped the bounds of earth and in the “twinkling of an eye” soared to her beloved Jesus.  Maudie was born November 28, 1934, in Mechanicsburg, Ohio, to the late Nancy Agnes Milligan Hill and George W. Hill.  She accomplished many notable things in her life, but the one which pleased her the most was the fulfillment of Jesus’ words, “I will make you (a) fisher(s) of men.”  This was fulfilled in Peggy's service with Second Chance Prison Ministry and through her many years serving on the Board of Directors of Sonshine Ministries, devoted to recovery and rehabilitation of men, located on a farm in Loysville, PA.  Maudie was a member of Harvest Church in New Kingstown. After graduating from Sycamore High School in Ohio, Maudie returned to Mechanicsburg, Ohio, where she grew up, to work for two years before joining the U.S. Army.  She said she joined the Army “to see the world,” but that desire was not fulfilled until decades later.  Her highly skilled work with JAG at Fort Knox was so valuable she was never deployed overseas.  During this first career, Maudie was appointed Warrant Officer (WO-1), as only the 16th woman in the history of the U.S. Army to be granted that rank.  In addition to 20 years in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve, Maudie spent 29 years in civil service with the federal government, working in Selective Service, U.S. Army Reserve Technician with the 316th Station Hospital Harrisburg and was the Company Commander of the Recruiting District for the 79th Army Reserve Command, as well as the first USAR Operations Officer of the Harrisburg Recruiting Battalion.  She loved recruiting and traveled throughout Pennsylvania to encourage young men and women to join the Army and to benefit from the educational opportunities that opened up to them.  In 1974 she was the top recruiter for the 79th Army Reserve Command, Headquartered at Ft. Washington, PA.   Maudie received many awards, including the Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, the Army Achievement Medal w/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/Hourglass. She gained great fulfillment from the informal rewards, such as the opportunity to arrange for five-year-old Jamie to become “General for the Day” at Fort Indiantown Gap as part of the Make A Wish Children’s Foundation, even working out a helicopter ride for him. After her double career, Peggy's third career included six years at Christ Community Church in Camp Hill, serving four years as the administrator.  One of her roles there was to help in the production of Christmas pageants which often attracted as many as 30,000 people.  Reserving camels and donkeys used the same skills as reserving helicopters!  Maudie was a networker par excellence.  She also served as administrator for about ten years for Harvest Church in New Kingstown, including overseeing the food bank. Through her varied roles in the Army, civil service, and the churches she got to know prominent Pennsylvanians, including many in the media. During her fourth career Peggy's desire to “see the world” was fulfilled, as she gave another 16 years serving as administrator for Heartstream Resources for Global Servants, devoted to the care of missionaries and other international humanitarian workers. (Headquarters in Liverpool, PA, with world-wide ministry.)  Maudie traveled to 23 countries assisting in HSR programs.  One highlight was in Tokyo, when a young Japanese woman took the hand of her mother and placed it in the hand of Maudie, honoring these two white-haired elders who had no common language!  She became a beloved friend to a host of people in many countries.  She still chuckles about one phone call, when she told a woman inquiring about the Intensive Care Treatment Program, “I’ve been through this program many times…” The woman responded in shock, “You must have been in terrible shape!”  Another famous, desperate phone call was from a young woman on the other side of the world, who arrived in Liverpool 48 hours later, based on Peggy's compassionate understanding. Another very significant part of Peggy's life was her love for her dogs, especially Tippie, Puddles, Smokey, Zack, and Gretyl.   On June 8 Maudie was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  She declined surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, choosing rather to complete her earthly days peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends. She is survived by Marion Matter, her devoted friend of 63 years.  She leaves behind many nieces, nephews, grandnephews and grandnieces, including the families of Nancy Balliet, Roberta Craig, Robert E. Dietrich III, Wyatt N. Dietrich, Edward Benton, and Gary Hill.  She was preceded in death by half-brothers Horace, Robert, and Herman Britton, and her brother Richard Hill. A viewing will be held at the Harvest Church at 6950 Carlisle Pike, in New Kingstown, on Monday August 2nd, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. with a Celebration of Life following at 11:00 A.M. The Rev. Fred Tiday and the Rev. Robert Stoner will officiate. Maudie will be buried at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, PA. Memorial gifts may be made to Harvest Church, P.O. Box 216, New Kingstown, PA 17072.