Hilda Sirbaugh Hauser

Born March 30, 1927 in Capon Bridge, WV

Daughter of Otis and Annie Sirbaugh

She had 2 brothers – Arlan and Sam Sirbaugh, both deceased.

Married Leslie (Les) Howard Hauser in New Orleans where their daughter Carol was born. After 53 years of marriage he preceded her in death by 12 years (buried adjactent).

Children – Larry Hauser (wife Patsy) – Pensacola, FL; and Carol Moss (husband Robert) – St Peters, MO

Grandchildren – Teresa Moss, Monica Dorenkamp, and Lisa Moss of St Peters, MO; Renae Browning of Pensacola; Daniel Hauser (US Navy) stationed in Japan

8 great-grandchildren

Hilda was very proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and she loved visits with them.

She had a rich career with US Civil Service. Had jobs in Washington DC; worked for US Air Force at Brookley Field, and US Customs in Mobile. Her last position was Senior Import Specialist with US Customs, where she was once named Southeast Region Employee of the Year. She had a badge and firearm for her job and enjoyed recalling the extensive firearms training at the FBI training center. At 5’2” she may have been among the smallest to complete the training….but she liked to think she was also among the scrappiest.

From 1957-1959 the family lived in Japan due to Les’s job with Civil Service; the family lived in Theodore, AL (Fowl River) for many, many years. Hilda and Les moved to Tillman’s Corner (just about across the road from Mobile Memorial Gardens) after Hurricane Frederic made their home uninhabitable. Shortly after Les passed away in 2000, Hilda moved to Pensacola, where family could better care for her needs.

She was a life-time member of the United Methodist Church. She was active in the American Women’s Business Association (once named regional Woman of the Year) and National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

She and Les had many cats and dogs over the years, and even some pet turtles (and yes, each turtle had a name). Mitzi (dog), Moses (cat) and Freckles (dog) were some of her favorite pets and she spoke of them often until her final days. Hilda loved bird-watching and had books to identify different birds. She enjoyed watching all kinds of wild-life and was a long term subscriber to National Geographic magazine. She loved planting flowers and working in the yard. She and Les spent countless days fishing in both fresh and salt water. She enjoyed crocheting and made afghans for the grandchildren.

Hilda and Les traveled all over. They went to Germany on a trip arranged by the Mobile sister city group. And they bought a motor home and traveled around the United States to many national parks and sights, including Alaska. They also drove the motor home to Mexico.

Hilda was an avid fan of University of Alabama football (influenced somewhat by her son Larry). She loved watching the games wearing an Alabama shirt and singing the fight-song (of course she had her own version of the lyrics which she steadfastly refused to change).