Delane Hill

Barbara DeLane (Mann) Hill, known to her family and many friends as DeLane, passed away Saturday, August 13, 2011 in Dallas, Texas after a brief illness. She was 64 years old.

Born on May 16, 1947 in Iredell County, North Carolina, DeLane was the eldest daughter of Ralph and Elizabeth Mann and sister to Gary Mann, Beverly Currin and Darrell Mann. The family relocated to the Tidewater region of coastal Virginia in the early 1950s where DeLane spent her formative years. Although she traveled the world and lived throughout the United States, DeLane proudly called Virginia home. DeLane is survived by her mother Elizabeth Mann; her husband Carl Hill; her daughter Julie Kirklin; her son Daniel Hill; her brother Gary Mann; her sister Beverly Currin; her brother Darrell Mann; and two grandsons, Bradley and Ryan Kirklin.

DeLane attended Warwick High School in Newport News, Virginia, where she developed many life-long friendships. She briefly attended college before beginning her career as an administrative assistant to the Special Weapons Officer, Naval Weapons Station, Newport News, Virginia in 1967.

A chance encounter on July 4th weekend, 1968 with a young Army aviator deploying to Vietnam, led to a whirlwind, two week courtship and subsequent engagement. Carl Hill and DeLane Mann were married on March 10, 1969 in Honolulu, Hawaii, beginning a beautiful and loving 43-year partnership. "Meant for each other", cannot begin to describe the bond of love lasting nearly one half century between DeLane and Carl.

DeLane and Carl shared a nearly 24-year military career, journeying together as a military couple. Serving throughout the United States and abroad, along the way they added to their family a daughter, Julie Elizabeth in 1974, and a son, Daniel Aaron, in 1977. DeLane was a dedicated and loving mother, grandmother and homemaker who eventually resumed her career in customer service in both the electronics and print industries. She was employed by the Standard Register Company of Dayton, Ohio in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1994 and spent the next nearly 17 years serving the needs of the customers of The Standard Register Company. At her passing DeLane was an Account Manager for the Baylor Hospitals System of Texas and for many others in the health industry. She was a consummate professional who cared deeply for her clients and co-workers.

DeLane was a gourmet cook who kept her skills honed reading cookbooks for fun. One of her best loved dishes was her Strawberry Pie. DeLane always made the happiness of those she loved and cared about a priority. She was a wonderful friend, a great listener and a shoulder to lean on. She would do anything for anyone, and was a surrogate "mom" to many. We are all diminished by the passing of this warm and generous human being.

A visitation will be held Tuesday evening August 16, 2011 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Allen Family Funeral Options 2120 W. Spring Creek Pkwy Plano, TX. 75025.

DeLane will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery. A date for the graveside service is forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in DeLane's name to the Susan G. Komen http://ww5.komen.org/Donate/DonateOnline.html