Robert Wayne Hilton's Obituary
Mr. Robert "Bob" Wayne Hilton, 54, of Kannapolis, NC died Sunday, May 20, 2007 at his home. Born January 19, 1953 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma he was a son of Jewel Elkins Hilton and the late, Robert L. Hilton.
He graduated from high school in 1971. As a veteran of the U.S. Army, he was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam conflict, and later took part in guarding the Munich Olympics after the killing of the Israeli athletes. In 1976, he married Sandra Hilton, and they raised two children in the Los Angeles area of California. While in California, he was the co-owner of BC's Saddle and Tack Repair. In 1986, they moved to Hilo, HI where he was a member of the Hilo Trollers, competition in East Hawaii to catch the four big flag fish. He owned and operated Hilo Hardwoods, a tree clearing and chipping company. He was also a union carpenter, concrete finisher and form setter. In 1995, he moved to North Carolina where he received his Class A truck driving license from the Charlotte School of Trucking, after which he drove coast to coast and local routes. He ended his career with EcoFX, as a site foreman for his true friends, the Stewart family, which owned the company.
To friends and family, Bob was recognized as a very unique, confident and loving individual full of strength and courage. Bob was a man with a wealth of knowledge and loved to go in depth on topics of history, current events, music, movies, outer space and most of all, the ocean. He was an avid deep sea fisherman who also enjoyed camping, cooking, gardening and reading.
His greatest enjoyment in life was to live each day to its fullest until the very end. Bob loved life itself so dearly he donated his body to the Genesis Program at the Medical Education and Research Institute in Memphis, TN so that others may live.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a nephew, Robert Earl Richardson.
Survivors include his mother, Jewel Elkins Hilton; his wife of 30 years, Sandra Hilton; his daughter, Amanda Rhodes and husband Blaine of Kannapolis; a son, David Hilton and his wife, Adrienne of Bishop, CA; four grandchildren, Abigail Rhodes, Dylan Robert Rhodes, Nicholas Hilton and Somer Hilton; a sister, Donna Richardson and a niece, Barbara; and numerous aunts and uncles in Tulsa, OK.
A memorial service for Bob will be held at 7:00 PM Wednesday in Lady's Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. John Sells will officiate. A celebration of Bob's life will be held at a later date.
Special thanks to the Ardsley Internal Medicine staff, Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, Dr. Shinn, Dr. Schwartz, Shelia Smith, R.N., Christine F. Hilton, and our friends and family for their care, kindness, support, dedication, prayers and their love.
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