Martha Presnall Hill

Profile Updated: September 29, 2022
Residing In: Castroville, TX USA
Spouse/Partner: Mark Hill, divorced 1980, came back in 2007 for health care, passed in 2013
Occupation: Retired from TWFD in 2017
Children: no children, many dogs through the years and a few cats.
Comments:

I went to Blinn Jr Coll for a semester before getting out into the work force and getting married. Married in 1968 to Mark Hill who I met in summer school the summer before my senior year. My first "real" job was working for a mail order life insurance company. After that I went to work for an Attorney who had an office in the Montrose area, before it had anything associated with the name. Then I went into the banking industry for about 8 years. By then we had moved to south Montgomery County. I've been out in The Woodlands/Spring area since 1974. Started working for The Woodlands Fire Dept. in 1978 and have been there ever since. Dispatched for one year, was a firefighter for 13 years and have been in Inspections for new construction and licensured facilities for 17 years. Also, did community education for about 10 years, before the dept spun off that position. Mark and I were married until 1980. I now act as his caregiver and have for 3 years. In 2010 Mark had a major stroke and had to go into nursing care. In 2013, just a month shy of his 65th bd I brought him home to go to his Heavenly Father. When Mark and I moved up to south Montgomery County in 1974 he got involved with the local volunteer fire dept. where we lived. He went through EMT and Paramedic training and established the first MICU ambulance in south county. I followed in his footsteps a couple of years later getting my EMT and then my Paramedic certification. I started volunteering as well with the local fire dept. When I finally gave up commuting to Houston to work, Mark introduced me to the Fire Chief of The Woodlands Fire Dept. and I got hired as a swing shift dispatcher. I did that for about a year. At that time The Woodlands F D was preparing to host a recruit class for firefighters. I had expressed an interest in getting the training to become a better dispatcher, but, right before the class started we lost one employee who was a firefighter, so, Chief asked me if I would like to try being a firefighter. I said I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Who would have guessed I would still be there nearly 40 years later. I was fortunate to live close to where I worked and to my church, the two things that mean the most to me. My younger brother Edwin, who went by his middle name, Wayne, in school graduated in '69/'70. I think he was the last class that graduated mid semester. Ed was in southern Wisconsin for 8 years, then moved to New Mexico for a year and now resides in Tennessee and is still in the dog training business and also has an internet business. My younger sister, Marilyn, now Jones, graduated in '76 and was in the Guard. She and her family live out toward Katy. We grew up at Garden Oaks Baptist Church and so many of our friends at church were also at school. I am going to try to hold out till next year to retire, hopefully when I turn 66. I am getting impatient, though, and cannot say if I will be able to, I have so many things I would rather be doing. Well that didn’t happen. Worked till I was 68 and didn’t want to retire after all. Hoping to move to somewhere in the hill country. Since I was not blessed with children, I have always had dogs in my life. One time as many as six, but, now only 4. Change that to six again. One being a huge white Shepherd. The other two not nearly so big. A Rat Terrier and a Dachshund mix. They keep me happy. In 2017 my back decided I needed to retire in my 39th year with The Woodlands. I was not ready to retire and it has been a huge learning curve for me. The spring before I retired, God got me interested in roses and hydrangeas. Since I planned to be moving before now, I planted everything in pots. Then through different circumstances I acquired 3 more dogs. A Dorky(dachshund/yorky mix), an American bull terrier and a pointer/terrier mix. Back up to six, again. I also acquired a second cousin, who is mentally challenged(15 year old brain) after his divorce and planning to ‘live’ under a bridge. He helps with the property and works as a dishwasher at a local restaurant in the evenings. Quite the menagerie. Ha. Life is strange. You never know what to expect. Just be flexible and God will do the rest. Well, the last two dogs decided to return to where they came from, so, back to four again. Listed my place in August 2020 and sold in May’21. My cousin decided to stay in Spring at his brothers. Found a place in Castroville, Tx, up on a hill overlooking the town, just west of San Antonio. Finished moving in August. Still not unpacked, but, loving where I’m at. Meeting neighbors. Posting lots of pictures on Facebook.

School Story:

During my 1st semester at Waltrip we still lived on W 32nd St right off Lawrence which was just a block E of Shepherd. My parents new we were moving into the Waltrip district and so had me transfered from Reagan to Waltrip before we actually moved. My most fond memory was of a friend I had who was a year ahead of me that first semester. Her name was Sharon Richardson. She had an old Corvair, I believe. She used to pick me up and take me home, so my Mom wouldn't have to. We used to have the best time together. She was taking me home from school one afternoon and as we were crossing Shepherd on 34th, she had been going just a little fast for the dip onto Shepherd and when we came back up on 34th the whole muffler came off the car. Well, then the car sounded like a hot rod, so we were roaring with laughter as the car was roaring all the way to my house. I can also remember for a short period of time being friends with Shelley and what a hoot she was. She had a great sense of humor. I met my best friend Andrea Outlaw at church, but, we were lucky enough to also go to school together. I can remember being on the pep squad and yelling until we were hoarse at football games.

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Mar
20
Mar 20, 2024 at 4:33 AM
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06
Mar 06, 2024 at 1:14 PM

Wishing you a Happy and Blessed Birthday Speedy.

Mar 06, 2024 at 1:10 PM

Wishing you a Happy and Blessed Birthday Doug.

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Mar 06, 2024 at 5:00 PM

Posted on: Mar 06, 2024 at 1:09 PM

Wishing you a Happy and Blessed Birthday Deb.

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Mar
01
Mar 01, 2024 at 4:45 AM

I remember Linda. She was always such a happy, outgoing person. So sorry for her family and friends. I know she is at peace now, praise God. She will always be remembered. Rest easy sister in Christ.

Feb
18
Feb 18, 2024 at 4:23 PM

Hope you’re gonna have a great Birthday Gene.

Feb 18, 2024 at 4:21 PM

Another trip almost complete. Have a blessed Birthday Darlene.

Feb 18, 2024 at 4:19 PM

Wishing you a wonderful Birthday Bob. Have some fun.

Feb
16
Feb 16, 2024 at 10:44 PM

Wishing you a blessed Birthday Chris.

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Feb 20, 2024 at 8:10 PM

Posted on: Feb 16, 2024 at 10:43 PM

Wishing you a blessed Happy Birthday Kathy.

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Feb
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Feb 17, 2024 at 10:19 AM

Posted on: Feb 16, 2024 at 10:41 PM

Hope you had a blessed Birthday Gary.

Feb
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Feb 16, 2024 at 10:40 PM

Hope you had a wonderful Birthday Beverly.

Feb
07
Feb 07, 2024 at 8:09 PM

Wishing you a blessed Happy Birthday Linda.

Feb 07, 2024 at 8:08 PM

Wishing you a blessed Happy Birthday Pat.

Feb 07, 2024 at 8:07 PM

Wishing you a blessed Happy Birthday Karen.

Feb 07, 2024 at 8:06 PM

Wishing you a blessed Happy Birthday Carl.

Jan
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Jan 18, 2024 at 11:49 AM

Wishing you a blessed Happy Birthday Clara.

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Jan 15, 2024 at 8:22 PM

Hope you had a great birthday Sylvia.

Jan 15, 2024 at 8:20 PM

Hope you had a grand Birthday Kathleen.

Jan 15, 2024 at 8:05 PM

Hope you’re having a wonderful Birthday Karyl.

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Posted: Dec 17, 2013 at 12:39 AM