Here, dreams may live - too beautiful for words.

Here, we may walk with God, and proudly see

The grail of wonder, reaching for the stars.

Here, soul can rest in true tranquility

--Where Beauty Dwells - Roy Z. Kemp

Our Beginnings

Hill View Retirement Center had its beginnings in the late 1960's through the imagination and compassionate faith of the Reverend William Boehnker of United Methodist's College Hill Home in Cincinnati, Ohio. He envisioned a retirement community strategically located in Portsmouth, Ohio. Upon his retirement as Director of College Hill Home, he was appointed Chairman of the Research and Development Committee to pursue location of the new facility. Soon after, his sense of need was joined with that of the Reverend John Gingrich and the congregation of the former Bigelow United Methodist Church of Portsmouth, and serious conversations began.

With a sense of divine providence at work in his heart, Reverend Boehnker personally ventured to purchase the 20 acre tract of land upon which Hill View is presently located. In October, 1971, under the momentum of inspiration, the Board of Trustees of Twin Towers voted to sponsor the project; the architectural firm of Gelwicks and Walls began to develop plans, and the first Board of Managers was created. On November 21, 1971 the Portsmouth District voted to support the new retirement community by an overwhelming vote. Following a successful financial campaign among the Portsmouth District Churches, the name Hill View was selected for the new community, a name appropriate to "the setting as we look in all four directions."

Reverend Otis Bell, a long-time Hill View resident until his death in 2003, penned these words: "What a name! Whoever gave us this name really captured the spirit of southern Ohio. Here, flanked on the south by the beautiful Ohio River, you are either standing on a hill looking down or standing at the foot of a hill and looking up! You are never without a... Hill View." Fittingly, the present Hill View Board of Trustees has approved the new Worship Center to be named after Otis and his wife Earlene.

Envisioning the Future

There has for some time been a felt need for an additional area for persons to gather for worship and prayer. Hill View's campus has expanded greatly since its beginning, now providing services for about 320 residents. For example, a person in the Assisted Living section of the facility cannot easily come over to the main area where spiritually oriented opportunities are presently offered. For others, the need for a second center for worship and prayer closer to their dwelling has become apparent. The distance between their dwellings and the present worship area, the Forest Room, has, for some, become a deterrent to their involvement.

Given the sprawling size of our present campus and a need for a second area for worship gatherings and other events that could be held there, and given the availability of space suitable for such a place, a plan has been developed to build a new Worship enter on the present roof area of the Rotunda Building, more centrally located to the entire Hill View complex. The Center is needed to provide enhanced spiritual life accessibility and accommodation to persons in its Assisted Living and Health Care units.

The Otis and Earlene Bell Memorial Worship Center

Otis and Earlene Bell arrived at Hill View in 1986. They had served for over 20 years as missionaries in Okinawa and Japan, as well as pastoring several United Methodist congregations in Ohio. Otis suffered for many years from Parkinson's Disease, dying in 2003. Earlene died of cancer in 2006. Two finer servants of God have perhaps never been known in this area. Their greatest joy was in serving God; and some of their finest triumphs in life happened here on Hill View's campus where they inspired an entire community with their vibrant, overcoming spirit. No one else could more fully embody the spirit of this special place we know as Hill View. I would like to quote from words that Otis penned in an unpublished manuscript entitled "Burst of Glory."

I am one of the common ones, no great glory, no being a superstar, no thousands standing with applause. Just an ordinary person - well, that is not true! I am not ordinary because God has chosen me to be His servant. I may never carry the Commandments down from the mountain. I may never preach to thousands, and my name may never be a household word. In fact I am a lot like you. However, I have had my moments. I call them my burst of glory - those special times that God spoke my name and said, "I have a task for you!" Excitement, thrill, joy! To be sure, the tasks were always rather insignificant and seemingly unimportant; but they were assigned by the heavenly Father, and what could give the smallest of tasks more meaning. There is no doubt in my mind that you, too, have had your bursts of glory, times when our father in Heaven spoke your name and make you something special.

It is the conviction of the Board of Trustees and Administration that the Lord has given to us the task of building this new Worship Center, that it is very much needed to complement our present facility, and that the Center can and will embody the vibrant, overcoming spirit of Otis and Earlene Bell. Let this moment in the life of Hill View be our "Burst of Glory," the special time that God spoke our name and said, "I have a task for you!" In the overcoming spirit of Otis and Earlene we will move forward successfully to accomplish this important task.

- Rev. Dick North, Campaign Director -