William Lewis "Louie" Hiles

William Lewis “Louie” Hiles, 84, passed away into the presence of his Lord, after a lengthy illness, on January 20, 2019 at Sunnybrook Rehabilitation in Raleigh. Born on December 3, 1934 in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, he was one of four children to the late Benjamin Lewis Hiles and Edna Geckle Hiles. Louie served honorably in the US Navy from April 1954 to April 1958. He was stationed in Long Beach, CA and also served in Japan. He served on the USS Bryce Canyon as a Machinery Repairman 2nd Class. He met and married his sweetheart, Violet Marie Lankey, on February 14, 1959, and they enjoyed 50 years together.

Louie worked for 31 years as a Machinist with Kennametal from March of 1966 to retiring in March of 1997. He and Violet raised two children, Calvin and Crystal and enjoyed the outdoors and camping. The family had many summer vacations in Chincoteague, VA surf fishing. Later in life, Louie and Violet loved to RV and even caravanned to Alaska. Louie was preceded in death by his loving wife, Violet, on January 15, 2010.

He is survived by his son, Calvin Hiles and wife, Mary, of Ligonier, PA; his daughter, Crystal Johnson and husband, Neil, of Raleigh; his four grandchildren, Ryan and Jennifer Hiles, and Benjamin and Miranda Johnson; siblings, Harry Albert Hiles and wife Charlene, of Jacksonville, FL, Elizabeth Mae Hixson and husband Ray, of Mt. Pleasant, PA, and Eileen Hiles and her companion Eugene Hixson, of Scottdale, PA; and his aunt Edith Murkley of Hunker, PA.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 26, 2019 from 1-3 pm at Mitchell Funeral Home (7209 Glenwood Avenue), with a Funeral Service, officiated by Rev. Laura Johnson, to begin at 3 pm in the funeral home chapel. Burial, with Military Honors, will follow at Raleigh Memorial Park.

Violet and Louie were active members of Windborne United Methodist Church – 9121 Six Forks Road- Raleigh, NC 27615, where Louie was a faithful member of the Prayer Team Ministry. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the church.