Wayne Hillbish

Angel Wings via Bird

Cremations of Tampa

Tracy Turner-Hillbish 

Wayne Benjamin Hillbish, 53, passed away surrounded by family on July 5, 2025 in Valrico, Fla. Born on June 26, 1972 in Hershey, Penn., Wayne was as sweet as the chocolate his hometown produced and leaves a legacy of love, quirkiness and graciousness that impacted everyone he crossed paths with.

Wayne was a 1991 graduate of Butler Area Senior High School in Butler, Penn., one of the myriad of towns he lived in throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. After graduation, he resided in the Pittsburgh suburbs, before making the most impactful decision of his life - moving to Florida. Wayne relocated to the Tampa Bay region at the turn of the millennium, settling in Hernando County, where he worked as a golf course groundskeeper at Timber Pines Country Club in Spring Hill, Fla.

In 2006, Wayne met his future wife, Tracy Turner-Hillbish, at a Barnes & Noble in Brandon, Fla., an event that would ultimately change the trajectory of his life. Wayne and Tracy’s love was nothing short of a fairy tale, as the two married within 64 days of dating. Through Tracy, he was gifted a son, Will, who he treasured as his own, each and every day.

The trio’s lives changed in March 2024, when Wayne was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer, that would ultimately take his life after a 16-month fight. Through several rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, and hospitalizations, Wayne kept a positive attitude and was a true warrior throughout the process, no matter what the disease threw at him.

Throughout his life, Wayne’s strong smile and kind heart showed in all he did. Later in life, he quickly rose through the ranks at Your Green Team (Fairway Lawns) through exemplary hard work, finishing his career in a management position. He treasured his work family, especially through the support they showed during his fight with terminal illness.

As a worker in Florida’s relentless summertime heat and humidity, Wayne was an avid weather enthusiast and would often sit on his couch and wait for his NOAA weather radio to alert him of impending severe thunderstorm warnings before turning on local weatherman Denis Phillips to give him the low-down at 5 p.m. each afternoon. Wayne had an affinity for 1980s television and owned boxsets of Airwolf, Emergency!, Knight Rider and Street Hawk, among many others. He was a passionate fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes, in which he and Tracy were Saturday regulars at O’Brien’s Pub in Brandon, eventually becoming OSU Suncoast Alumni Club members. Just as in life, Wayne went out as a champion - he got to see his Buckeyes take home their ninth national championship in January.

In later years, Wayne enjoyed Live PD and would often sit with Tracy, his late chihuahua Chi Chi and a cup of coffee on Saturday nights in what was true appointment television. Wayne & Tracy shared a large music collection, with Wayne’s additions being numerous in that of R.E.M. CDs, as well as a whole host of instrumentalist artists such as Vangelis, Andreas Vollenweider, Patrick O’Hearn and Liquid Mind. His meticulously kept iTunes collection was as large as his heart.

Wayne is preceded in death by his father, Warren C. Hillbish., of Cape Coral, Fla.

He is survived by beloved wife Tracy, of Valrico, Fla., son, Will Turner, of Philadelphia, mother Barbara Koepfinger of Milford, Del., older brothers Warren S. Hillbish II of Easton, Penn. and David of Coatesville, Penn., stepmother Susan Hillbish of Cape Coral, Fla., stepsister Shannon and husband William Liming of N. Ft. Myers, Fla., nephew Warren C. II, wife Sabrina and niece Krystel Hillbish of Easton, Penn., mother-in-law Patricia Turner of Hilliard, Ohio and best friends and chosen family Gil Martinez and wife Mary Jo of Seffner, Fla.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to one of two non-profit organizations that Wayne supported: Fightcolorectalcancer.org/wall-of-champions/donate/ or Paltown.org/donate (Colontown)

Wayne's Celebration of Life will take place at The Barn at Winthrop on Sunday, August 24 at promptly 1 pm in Riverview at 11349 Bloomingdale Ave., Riverview Florida 33578. The Venue — The Barn at Winthrop The service will NOT be formal. Please wear something colorful and funny. Bright colors - no black please. This event will be a time to remember, honor, and share stories and memories of Wayne so please come ready to share. It can be funny or heartwarming, but he wanted us to celebrate him with joy, knowing he is at peace and in no pain! Light refreshments will be available afterward. Please spread the word to anyone who would like to come. This is a large space (indoor and outdoor), and he wanted this to be an inclusive event for whomever wanted to be there. All individuals are welcome.

When words can’t fully express what we want to say, sometimes a small gift can. Visit our Memorial Store for personalised gifts, keepsake jewellery and to plant a memorial tree.

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Wayne Wayne-O Hillbish Obituary | Cremations of Tampa