Colonel Wilbur Samuel "Sam" Hilton

Colonel Wilbur Samuel “Sam” Hilton, passed away March 31, 2010 at age 95. He was born December 17, 1914 at Spokane, Missouri and is survived by his daughters, Judy Colcleasure of Modesto, CA and Jane Hilton of Fountain, CO; son, Paul Hilton of Loveland, CO; brother, Colonel James Hilton of Raytown, MO; nine grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 73 years, Eula Grace Hilton, an infant son, Wilbur Neil Hilton; parents, Claude Ellis and Etta Grace (Pryer) Hilton; a brother, Colonel Ray Hilton; three sisters, Velma (Harold) Bosworth, Opal Hilton and Freeda (Charles) Miller. Colonel Hilton enlisted in the US Army in January 1934, served almost 35 years in the Infantry, and rose in rank to the grade of Colonel in the Regular Army. He retired from the Army in October 1968 and served six and on-half years as Senior Army Instructor with the JROTC Unit at Pueblo County High School, Pueblo, CO. He served with the 75th Infantry Division in the European theater of Operations during World War II and saw combat in the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge), Rhineland, and Central Europe Campaigns. He served in Vietnam as an Advisor to the South Vietnamese Army and served in Korea as an Advisor to the Republic of Korea Army. He was a student and an Instructor at the Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia and was a graduate of the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. During his military career, he served in all leadership and command positions from Squad Leader to Regimental Commander inclusive. His military awards included the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Legion of Merit Medal, Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart Medal, and numerous service medals. He was a member and past president of the Pueblo Chapter of The Retired Officers Association and a member of the National Association of Uniformed Services. He attended First Southern Baptist Church where he was an adult Sunday School teacher for many years. Viewing at Imperial Funeral Home 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Funeral Service at First Southern Baptist Church at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 7th with Reverends George White and Richard Cherry officiating. Entombment with full military honors in Chapel of the Angels Mausoleum, Imperial Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make memorials to their favorite charity through the funeral home office. Arrangements, Imperial Funeral Home.