Alma Catherine Hill, known lovingly as Alma, was born on February 3, 1930, in Ryan, Oklahoma, and she passed from this life on September 15, 2026, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, into the eternal presence of her Lord and Savior. She lived a life marked by faith, purpose, courage, and devotion, and she leaves behind a testimony that continues to speak with strength and grace.

Alma grew up in Waurika, Oklahoma, and later moved to Oklahoma City, where her life began to unfold with the kind of determination and spiritual hunger that would shape all her days. At the age of 19, she felt a call from God to go to Africa as a missionary, and that calling became one of the defining truths of her life. In God's providence, she met Melton, who also carried a desire to serve in Africa. Their shared calling brought them together, and they were married in 1953, between their junior and senior years of college. Together they pursued teaching as their goal, but more importantly, they pursued the will of God with whole hearts and willing spirits.

Alma and Melton were assigned as missionaries by the Assemblies of God, and in 1958 they departed for Togo, West Africa, traveling by way of Lausanne, Switzerland, where they learned to speak French. Their journey was not simply one of geography, but of obedience, sacrifice, and service. In Togo, they served as teachers and church planters. They were some of the founding members of the West Africa Advanced School Of Theology and Alma stepped in as Dean for a time. They devoted their lives to the mission of the Gospel. Their work was not merely a career, but a sacred calling. They carried the light of Christ into places near and far, and they did so with humility, perseverance, and joy.

Alma lived to study and learn, and she believed that growth was a lifelong gift from God. She and Melton both earned Master's Degrees, and hers was in French. Her love of learning reflected her love of excellence, and her life showed that faith and education can walk hand in hand when both are surrendered to the Lord. She loved adventure and traveling, classical music, and being fancy :). Those interests revealed a woman who appreciated beauty, order, and the richness of life. She embraced the world with curiosity and grace, and she carried herself with a dignity that was both warm and memorable.

She was a Christian whose life bore witness to the power of calling, commitment, and steadfast love. Alma understood that the Christian life is not always easy, but it is always worth it when lived in obedience to God. Her life reminds us that one faithful yes can bless generations, and that a life poured out in service is never wasted.

As the Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Alma's life reflected that same faithful endurance, and her legacy stands as an encouragement to all who seek to follow Christ with courage.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 48 years, Melton Odell Hill, as well as her parents, Allen and Myrtle Thurman, her sisters Lola Dickson, Edna Plant, Midge Cullum, and Joyce Hunter, Wanda Blakely and her brother Don Thurman.

She is survived by her children, Marcia Hill, Jeff Hill, and Troy and Laurie (Hill) Skow, who carry forward the memory of a mother whose life was shaped by devotion, prayer, and steadfast love.

Alma's journey on earth has now reached its completion, but the fruit of her life remains. She leaves behind a legacy of faith, learning, service, and grace that will continue to inspire those who knew her and those who hear her story. Her life teaches us that when we answer God's call, even across oceans and into unfamiliar places, He is faithful to use our obedience for His glory.

May her memory be a blessing, and may her example remind us to live with purpose, to love deeply, and to trust the God who leads His people home.