After finishing his primary schooling, he served a five-year apprenticeship with British Railways in Derby. Following his apprenticeship, he joined the Union Castle Steamship Company as an engineering officer. Sailing around the coast of Africa sparked his interest in the continent, which would become the love of his life until the end. Always mesmerized by the sea, he joined the Merchant Navy and sailed to many interesting ports.
In 1966, Stuart and his first wife, Marian, immigrated to Canada, and in 1969, the company he worked for sent them to Puerto Rico. They had eight children together.
In 1975, he was transferred to Philadelphia, PA, where he traveled the world for 25 years.
In 1984, Stuart and Paula married and joined two families—his eight and Paula's three. Later, they had twin boys together, making a total of 13 children.
In 1986, Stuart's job moved them to Chattanooga, TN. In 1990, Stuart took a job teaching engineering at Chattanooga State, UTC, and ETSU. He also taught marketing at Bryan College. It was common for Stuart and Paula to be out when someone would come running up to say, "Mr. Hilton, do you remember me? I was in your class at..."
The importance of education was evident not only in his teaching but also in his love for being a lifelong learner. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering from Derby College, a Bachelor of Marketing at St. Joseph's University, Divinity at Temple University, and a PhD of Engineering at UTC
Stuart lived a very full life, but his passion for the continent of Africa carried him through his retirement years all the way to Hixson Presbyterian Church, where he worked on the missions committee and sub-committee overseeing the church plant in Uganda with dear friend Agaba Emmanuel. Before his death, he was able to see the completion of the church building there, and through Stuart's mentorship, "Emma" achieved ordination.
As Stuart always said, there is an old African saying: "You can take the man out of Africa, but you cannot take Africa out of the man."
Stuart has been welcomed to Heaven by his family, who preceded him in death. Parents, Harold and Margaret Hilton. Siblings: Margaret (Emelyn), Kenneth (Isis), Gordon (Winn), Donald (Anne). Son, John Szekely. And many, many others
Stuart is survived by his wife of 41 years, Paula, as well as his 12 children: Jacqueline (Dwayne) Andreasen, Ian Hilton, Rachel Hilton, David (Meghan) Hilton, Andrew (Kristin) Hilton, Matt (Lindsay) Hilton, Adrienne (Paul) Simpson, Vanessa (Tim) Tripp, Jennifer (Lance) Maddux, Michael (Tiffany) Hilton, Scott (Brandi) Hilton, Chris Hilton, 28 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren with two more on the way.
The family will receive friends from 11 am until 1 pm on Friday, August 15, at Hixson Presbyterian Church, 1450 Jackson Mill Drive in Hixson, TN 37343.
A Celebration of Stuart’s life will follow at 1 pm on Friday at Hixson Presbyterian Church with Pastor Robert Johnson presiding.
Burial will be in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
Instead of flowers, please consider donating to local and global outreach mission work at https://www.hixsonpres.org/give/
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com
The arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.
