Dr. Adam Eugene Hill, a loving husband, father, adventurer, and gifted dentist, passed away at the age of 58, after a year-long courageous battle with stomach cancer, surrounded by his devoted family and friends.
He is survived by his loving wife, Leslie Wellyn Temple, his cherished daughter Josephine Grey Temple Hill, and his beloved son Andrew Thibault Temple Hill. Adam was predeceased by his father, Robert Eugene Hill, and leaves behind his mother, Marcia Hoag Hill of Morganton; his sister, Liza Kirkpatrick (Scott) of Evanston, IL; as well as his in-laws John Temple (Laura), Paige Temple, Barrett Terrell (Steve) and Fleet Temple (Kimberly). He is also lovingly remembered by a host of nieces and nephews, including Mackenzie Kirkpatrick, Mason Kirkpatrick, Fleet Temple, Barrett Eidson, Lorna Eidson, Temple Eidson,
Flynn Terrell, Will Terrell, Booker Temple and Scotty Temple.
Adam was born on February 12, 1966, in Pasadena, California, and from a young age, he was full of energy and a love for life. After his family relocated to Wake Forest, North Carolina, in 1968, he discovered his passion for soccer. He attended Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, where he honed both his soccer skills and musical talent, mastering the drum kit. His athleticism and leadership were evident, and after moving to Morganton, NC, in 1982, he graduated from Freedom High School, earning a spot on the North Carolina All-State Soccer team. His adventurous spirit emerged early, with a love for boating, canoeing, and hiking. He later graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1988.
After graduation, Adam followed his sense of adventure to the sea, serving as First Mate on the Spirit of Los Angeles. Not one to settle, he pursued and obtained his 100 Ton Master Boat Captain’s license, which allowed him to lead expeditions with the Clipper Cruise Line. As captain, he navigated trips through Alaska, the Panama Canal, the Napa and Columbia River Valleys, the Intercoastal Waterway, and explored the world, traveling to India, Hawaii, and hiking Mount Whitney.
In the early 1990s, Adam shifted his focus, returning to North Carolina to attend UNC Dental School. Even while studying dentistry, his thirst for adventure never waned. He found joy in nature, hiking the 100-mile wilderness on the Appalachian Trail, scaling three of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks—Grays, Torreys, and Mount Elbert — and canoeing the Roanoke River with his dad. All along the way, friends and family were always part of the adventure.
Adam’s life entered a wonderful new chapter when he met and married Leslie in 1999. Together, they built a life filled with love, family, and adventure. After dental school, they moved to Hot Springs, NC, where Adam worked at the Hot Springs Health Program before acquiring his own dental practice in Blowing Rock in 2003. There, Adam and Leslie grew their family and built a thriving practice, becoming beloved members of the community.
Blowing Rock became the backdrop for Adam’s adventurous spirit. He explored the outdoors with boundless enthusiasm, hiking trails, discovering hidden swimming holes, local ski hills, backcountry adventure, and annual ski and beach trips with friends and family. Adam became known for bringing every possible toy for his trips: kayaks, paddle boards, snowboards, splitboards, bikes, guitars, frisbees, kites and bocce ball, not ever wanting to miss out on any opportunity to have an adventure. His love for music grew, as he delved into music theory and cherished playing drums and guitar with friends. Annual family “cousin camps” became a beloved tradition, with Adam leading the way and sharing his infectious joy for the outdoors and good company. Adam’s legacy is one of boundless curiosity, adventure, and love. He will be dearly missed by his wife Leslie, his family, and the countless friends and patients who were lucky enough to know him.
A memorial service will be held at St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church in Blowing Rock, NC on Thursday, September 26 th at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Middle Fork Greenway https://www.middleforkgreenway.org/donate in honor of Adam E Hill, DDS.
Austin and Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Hill family.
Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
