Graydon Austin Dill

Hastings resident, Graydon Austin Dill, 83, died Sunday, February 3, 2008, at his home 810 Waynoka. Private family burial will be held at Parkview Cemetery, Hastings. Memorial services will be Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 11 AM at the First United Methodist Church, Hastings, NE with the Rev. Alan Davis officiating with luncheon to follow. Visitation will be Wednesday, February 6, 2008 from 9 AM to 9 PM at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home and Cremation. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com. Graydon Austin Dill, was born January 19, 1925, to Roy M.Dill and Laura C. (Cunningham) Dill near York, Nebraska. Attending primary school in Benedict, Nebraska, and Spring Ranch, Nebraska, he then attended junior high and senior high in Hastings until the middle of his senior year when he moved to Pittsburg, Kansas, and graduated from high school. Following high school he worked at the Pittsburg, Kansas airport prior to joining the Army Air Corps serving as a fighter pilot until the end of WWII. After his active duty in the Air Force, Graydon served in the Air Force Reserves as an officer for 40 years achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel. Graydon returned to Hastings after WWII ended, graduated from Hastings College, and later earned his Masters Degree from the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley. He taught math and physical education at Morton Elementary and math at Hastings Junior and Senior High for 37 years. In addition he coached track and field at the junior and senior high for 13 years. On August 2, 1953, Graydon married Donna Marie (Rose) Dill at the Juniata Methodist Church. Both Graydon and Donna participated in many community organizations. Graydon was an officer of the Audubon Society and a member of the Sierra Club. He belonged to the First United Methodist Church and the Elks Club. He also served as Troop 200 Cubmaster for the Hastings chapter of the cub scouts. Donna and Graydon also worked for the Hastings Recycling Center for 20 years. Survivors include, wife, Donna, son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Sue Dill of Lincoln, and daughter and son-in-law, Valerie and Evan Stout of McPherson, Kansas, six grandchildren and their spouses, Christian and Jessi Peterson of Beatrice, Nebraska, Linnea Peterson of Hastings, Karin and Mark Bales of Ft. Hood, Texas, Curtiss and Laura Dill of Lincoln, Kimberly Dill of Lincoln, and Kayla Stout of Wichita, Kansas. Graydon Dill is preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Pauline Krull and Lucile Kaufman, and two brothers, Velton Dill and Harry Dill. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church, the Hastings Retired Teachers Scholarship Fund or the donors choice.