Eugene Hill Sparling, age 87, passed away, March 30, 2017, at the Liza's Place Hospice in Wheeling, West Virginia. He lived a very active lifestyle of farming, hunting, fishing, camping, and coal mining. Known mainly as "Hille" to family and friends, he was also known as "Gene" or "Little Hocking" to many others. Hille was born on July 9, 1929 to Eugene and Ethel Harsha Sparling of Waterford, Ohio. He was raised on his family's farm in the Hayward Mansion which is the oldest house in Washington County (now 200 years old). He was born on a horse hair mattress which is still on the bed today. His play ground was the Lock 4 Sparling Dam on the Muskingum River. He was preceded in death by his four beloved brothers (Wyndham, Kenneth, Milo, and Donald). Hille was the youngest and last of the five ornery Sparling boys. Hille served in the United States Army during the Korean War in Germany, Aug 1952 thru Aug 1954. He was married to Josephine Bowser Sparling who proceeded him in death in 2008. Hille and Josephine raised three children. Gordon David Sparling, Tamara Jean Tiger (Jeffrey Tiger, deceased), and Stacey Hillis Sparling (Dr. Wendy Miller). He is survived by seven grandchildren: Jennifer McDonald, David Sparling, Jr., Levi Tiger, Jesse Tiger, Caitrin Sparling, Kiera Sparling, and Liliana Miller Sparling. Hille has 7 great grandchildren Elliott Thomas, Tyler Sparling, Ashley Sparling, Andrew Bloom, Alex Bloom, Sarah Bloom, and Daniel Goff. He also has 1 great great grandchild Aubrey Sparling. Hille worked for 35 years for the North American Coal Mine No. 3 and was proud to be a member of UMWA for 66 years. He was retired for 32 years. He was a member of the Bethel Presbyterian Church in Key, Ohio. Hille was quite the tomato farmer and shared tomatoes with all. He really enjoyed his neighbors and his porch. He loved it when everyone would stop by to talk and tell tall tales. He certainly had some tall tales of his own! His neighborhood of Key was his extended family for 63 years and they treated him well. In the last several months he had several caretakers including Phyllis, Misty, Anna Marie, and Max (the best old beagle dog who he really enjoyed). Max even came down the road by himself to visit Hille. They were close and enjoyed cuddling. Hille will be sadly missed by all. Family and friends will be received on Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Toothman Funeral Home in Jacobsburg, Ohio, where services will be held on Sunday at 1 p.m. with Rev. Kurt Turner officiating. Burial will follow in Holly Memorial Gardens, Pleasant Grove, Ohio. The Belmont County Veteran's Association will conduct Full Military Honors in the cemetery.