Carolyn Files Hill

Carolyn Files Hill, 97, passed away July 2 following a cheerful, well-lived life.

Born and raised as a child in Martinsburg, West Virginia, Carolyn spent her youth — as she would spend much of her adult life — helping others. From helping her neighbors to earn the money to take tap dancing lessons, to working in a jewelry store as a teenager, her worker bee way of life and joy for the world around her only continued to flourish.

Following her marriage and the birth of her children, Carolyn continued to stay busy in her newfound home in the Baltimore area. Whether volunteering in school programs or extra-curricular clubs to stay near her children or working one of many secretarial jobs between schools and Baltimore hospitals and universities, she was around to help in any way available to her.

A short time later, she opened her own shop — Sunshine 629 — in a converted garage and stable in Linthicum Heights in her grandchildren’s youth. Finding the “sunshine in her own backyard,” Carolyn’s little-bit-of-everything flower and quilt shop let her shine amongst the neighborhood in the best way she knew how. Years later following the closing of the shop and her husband’s passing, she continued to stay involved in similar ventures, working and helping people on a day-to-day basis.

Aside from how she spent her weekdays, Carolyn was also heavily involved with Sunday school at St. John’s Lutheran Church, primarily teaching teenagers about faith.

Even as she neared her later years, she continued to volunteer, heading back to schools to be close to her great grandchildren in the area. Carolyn was also always just a phone call away from the other half of her family out west, holding them just as near and dear regardless of the distance.

Carolyn earned quite the reputation as a baker and thoroughly enjoyed it, specializing in cakes for celebrations and birthdays with each passing year. Her most famous well-kept recipe — Jojo, a chocolate peanut butter dessert topping — tied into her roots from Martinsburg’s Patterson’s drug store.

A lover of life, community and the Lord, Carolyn filled up the book in her near century on God’s green earth. With a sharp wit and sound mind up until her final days, Carolyn left a lasting impression wherever she went, and those that spoke with her were hard-pressed to not crack at least one smile during a given conversation.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Margaret Estelle DeLancey and Marvin Horton Files Sr., her husband, Robert ‘Bobs’ Louis Hill Sr., her brother, Marvin Horton ‘Bobby’ Files Jr. and her son-in-law, Gale D. Brink. Carolyn is survived by her two children, Robert ‘Rusty’ (Nancy) Louis Hill Jr. of Severna Park and Margy Hill Brink of Ellensburg, Washington, four grandchildren, Stacy, EJ, Rob and Matt and seven great-grandchildren, Taylor, Ellison, Logan, Kacie, Ian, Lauryn and Aliya.

A graveside service will be held at Glen Haven Memorial Park next Saturday, July 12 at 11:00, with a celebration to follow at a later date at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Linthicum.