Alan Leon Hill

FULTON – Alan Leon Hill, 78, passed away on September 2, 2026. He was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, on February 4, 1948 to Edward and Ingabord (Nikolai) Hill.

Alan was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Bessy Colvin; his brother, Brian Hill; and his wives, Linda and Penny. He is survived by his brother, Keith Hill; his beloved nieces and nephew, Rhonda, Sarah, Amanda, Alan, Angela, and Pamela; and his great-grandnieces and nephews, Cody, Jacob, Nolan, Lucia, Ryver, Connor, Sawyer, Avery, Giada, Frankie, and Jovie.

Alan originally trained to become a history teacher, but a stint of student teaching taught him something important about himself: while he loved history deeply, he didn’t much care for managing a classroom full of kids day in and day out. Ever the pragmatist, he found a new path and became a Corrections Officer for New York State, spending the bulk of his career stationed in the prison tower.

It was in that tower, during the long, quiet stretches between the few and far between eventful moments, that Alan honed one of his great talents: whittling. Over the years, his clever, creative, and often tongue-in-cheek carvings became treasured gifts passed down through the family, each one a little piece of his sense of humor made solid.

Alan was also an avid firearms collector, a passion that let him indulge his love of history in yet another form. He took great pride in knowing the story behind each piece in his collection, including a treasured old Smith & Wesson revolver — the kind, he liked to point out, the cowboys carried. His favorite firearm, which he affectionately named Excalibur, he passed down to his niece, Amanda.

Alan was also a voracious reader, working his way through hundreds of books over his lifetime, and he had a gift for turning what he learned into stories that could hold a room. Whether he was recounting a piece of history or sharing hard-won wisdom, a conversation with Alan was rarely short — and never boring. Talking for hours was simply how he liked to spend his time, and those around him were glad to listen.

Later in life, Alan took up drawing, favoring the style of old newspaper comic strips. His writing carried that same wit — able to be deep and thought-provoking one moment and cheeky enough to make you blush and laugh the next. In his final years, as his world grew smaller from a hospital and nursing home bed, drawing became an even bigger part of his days, a way to keep creating even when so much else was limited.

Alan will be remembered for his sharp mind, his storytelling, his quiet skill with a knife and a pencil, and the singular way he made history — and life — feel worth talking about for hours on end. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.fosterfuneralhome.com.