Russell Kern Hillegass

Russell K Hillegass Jr., 88, died Monday October 22, 2012 at Florida East Hospital, Orlando, Fl. after a brief illness. Born in Leacock, Pa, son of the late Russell and Irene (Numbers) Hillegass, he was the husband of the late Lucy (Cobb) Hillegass who died in 2004. He graduated from Upper Leacock High School, Millersville State Teacher's College where he received his Bachelor's degree, and from Temple University in Philadelphia, where he received his Master's degree. He graduated from Northwestern Midshipman School in World War II as an ensign and served in the U.S. Navy amphibious forces in the South Pacific. He taught and coached in the public schools in suburban Philadelphia from 1951 through 1957. He worked for RCA and GTE from which he retired in 1987. He was a member of the York Rite Masonry in Lancaster, Pa. belonging to the Blue Lodge, Council, Chapter and Command. He lived in Philadelphia, Pa. area from 1949 to 1959, Los Angeles, Ca. from 1959 to 1961, Marlborough, MA from 1961 to 1994, and Orlando from 1994 until his death. He leaves three sons, Michael Hillegass and his wife Julie of Orlando, FL; Donald Hillegass and his wife Susan of Marlborough, MA; Dean Hillegass of Orlando, FL; and one daughter, Sandy Cooney and her husband Ty of Barrington, NH; seven grandchildren, Matthew Hillegass, Christopher Russell, Andrew Hillegass, Thomas Cooney, Sarah Hillegass, John Cooney and Rachel Hillegass; four great grandchildren, Lauren Hillegass, Alex Hillegass, Russell Hillegass, and Kristen Hillegass. He was predeceased by his son, Bruce Hillegass, who died in 1982, and his brother, Harold Hillegass, who died in 2010. Private services will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2012 at 11:00 A.M. at E. James Reese Funeral Home, 6767 Seminole Blvd., Seminole Fl. Burial will be at the Seminole Pioneer Cemetery. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave., NY, NY 10021, or Pinellas County Veterans Council (PCVC), C/o Herb Karkheck, 6550 Greenbrier Dr., Seminole, FL 33777.