Resident of El Sobrante

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Cynthia Caroline (Hill) Sowell, known to all as Carol. She died peacefully at home after losing her battle with cancer on January 9,2024.

The loving daughter of Katherine Marie (Sladovich) Hill and Robert Willis Hill, Carol was born on June 1, 1942 in Highland Park, Michigan. Carol was known for her big heart, generosity, and beautiful smile. She was a loyal daughter, sister, wife, aunt, cousin, niece and friend. Carol loved her family deeply and will be greatly missed.

Her father’s career of distinguished service in the U.S.

Navy brought the family to many places including Maine, New Jersey, Michigan, and Naples, Italy–where Carol graduated high school–and then to California. She moved to the Bay Area in 1963 and never left, living in Alameda with her sister, Joyce, before settling in Albany and finally, inElSobrante.

Carol proudly spent her career with the U.S. Postal Service, served as Secretary of the National Assoc. of Postal Supervisors, and retired in 1992 as the Superintendent of Support Services at the Berkeley Post Office.

She met her husband, Eugene Sowell in 1983 at The M & L, a favorite haunt of her USPS pals. They were married in 2001 at Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and remained married until Eugene passed away in 2015. Eugene’s family loved Carol as their own and Carol’s family is profoundly grateful to Jenene, Keenan, Shirley, Rosy, Nicki, and Hayley for the steadfast care they provided after Eugene’s death. Special thanks also to Judy Martinez and Desa Martin deTessan.

Carol loved her animals deeply, and her fur babies over the years included Beau, Teddy, Miss T, Jinx, Mickey, and Butch. Her cat, Rex, brought Carol tremendous comfort and he cuddled her as she took her last breath.

Carol was an active member of the West Berkeley Lions Club, where she was a financial officer and held a Melvin Jones Fellowship. She was also an active supporter of the Albany Men’s Golf Association. Every Christmas and Easter for aslong as her family and friends can remember, Carol enthusiastically sold copious amounts of See’s Candy.

She regularly donated her blood through the Alameda-Contra Costa County blood bank. Carol was gifted with numbers and kept books for several friends and acquaintances throughout her life.

The music of Johnny Mathis, Elvis Presley, Jimmie Rodgers, and other greats from her youth brought Carol joy. She loved traveling, reading, crossword puzzles, playing cards, and eating out at Mel’s Diner and other local spots with friends and family. Carol was also known for her prowess at the pool table and bowling alley. She will be remembered fondly by her lifelong sisters-of-the-heart, Judy and Sue, and by her many other friends including Deanie, Linda, and Vicky. Carol was happiest around the people she loved and could always be counted on for caring support, a heart-warming smile, and a handful of gummy bears.

Carol is survived by her beloved sisters Joyce Hill and MaryAnne Dickinson (Jim), sister-in-law Anne Hill, nieces Karen Hausser (Dan), Laurie Suson (Gail) and Julia Sorochan (Mike), nephews Brian Conley (Barbara), Eric Dickinson (Lisa) and Aaron Hill (Amanda), great-nieces Claudia (Austin), Katee, Maggie, and Zosha, great-nephews Dylan, Mason, Jimmy and William, great-great-nephew Evan, and on Eugene’s side by her mother-in-law Jenene, and by Eugene’s siblings Keenan (Shirley), Karen, Craig (Sandy), Christine and their descendants.

She is predeceased by her husband Eugene, mother and father, brother Bruce Hill, and father-in-law Ernest Sowell.

Afterglow By Helen Lowrie Marshall I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one. I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done. I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.

I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun; Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.