“Hank” Hilton was born in Bryan, Texas to parents William Sharon Hilton and Weltha Odessa Smith.
After a few semesters at Texas A&M, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served in the Pacific conflict until suffering severe wounds in Okinawa. After a year of convalescing in San Diego, he returned to Texas A&M and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. While on an internship in Honduras, he met Lydia Romero, the woman who would become his wife for sixty nine years. They married in 1952. His job as an engineer afforded him the ability to explore his adventurous side and allowed him to work from the Middle East to Central and South America, the Caribbean and many states in North America.
He is survived by his wife, Lydia; his children, Henry, Jr., George and wife Sally, James, Robert, Fred; grandchildren, Andrew, Katherine, Maddie, and Annie. His oldest son, Mack, died in 2007.
Mr. Hilton died surrounded by his loving family after a short battle with time. He was ninety nine years young. The family is heartbroken with sorrow from his absence but joyful from the lasting memories he leaves behind. We were blessed to have him.
Funeral services are entrusted to Memorial Funeral Chapel of Bryan. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 30, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM with Recitation of Holy Rosary at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, December 1, at 10:00 AM, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Interment to follow at College Station City Cemetery.
