Bill Glenn Hilton

Bill Glenn Hilton, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, uncle and good friend, passed away on Monday, January 19, 2015. His loving family includes his wife, (Janet Hilton) and children, (Dean Hilton, Sharon Mann, Mark Hilton and Don Hilton.)

Dean’s family includes Cheryl Hilton; Shannon, Jeff, Emily, Katie and Zachary Kesselman; Heidi and Paul Mahn, Taylor and Lexie Rapp, and Maria Mahn.

Sharon’s family includes Gary Mann; Michael, Zaneta, Orion, Callula, and Oliver Hahm-Taklender; Shawna, Eric and Lilla Bergman, Lori, Stan and Kyle Nicolaides and Murphy and Barbara Kuhn.

Don’s family includes Kendra Hilton; Chelsea Hilton and Dustin Kennedy and one-month old Kemper Kennedy.

Nieces and Nephews include Denise and Robin Prinz, Patricia Hilton Howard and family, Brenda Hilton Oakley and family, Donald, David, Dennis, Daniel and Douglas Maddy and families, and Janet May Hilton Rife and family.

Bill was born in Williamson, West Virginia on March 2, 1923. Bill’s family included his father and mother, Kemper Basil Hilton and Mallie Mae Jones Hilton, Brother Raymond and Sisters Naomi, and Mercedes (Shirley). Even though Bill grew up in the depression, he said he didn’t know he was poor. Everyone endured the same circumstance. He lived near the mountains and his boyhood was full of adventurous camping in the woods. We all heard the many stories of the snakes in the bed at night, having to cross the river to get to the outhouse and jumping on the milk wagon to get a ride to school, at least 6 miles away. There wasn’t always money to buy clothes so a new pair of pants would have been his father’s old pants, cut off at the knee. And, rope cinched around the waist.

School was not always easy for Bill because he struggled with a stutter, but he persevered (as he always did in life) and graduated from high school in 1941. In 1942, Bill joined the Marines to serve in World War II. He told us when he went to sign up for service his first choice was the Navy, but the line was too long. He decided on the Marines, because no one was in line at that office. With that decision, began a life-long love of the Marine Corp. Bill was trained as a rifleman and parachute battalion. In 1944, he fought in the battle of Iwo Jima. He was wounded in the foot. Bill was awarded the Purple Heart for his brave service to our country.

Bill and Janet Draper met in 1943. They were introduced through a mutual friend at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California. After their evening together, Bill promised to phone call Janet the next day. The next day he was so tired he almost didn’t make the phone call. But his good buddy, who he was on military leave with him, encouraged Bill to make the call. Bill and Janet would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on May 26, 2015. They are a dedicated and loving couple who raised four children by working hard to provide for their needs and joys of life.

In the last few years of his life, Bill and Janet’s greatest joys were spending time with his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids and hearing about their accomplishments. And, he loved Sunday morning breakfast at IHOP or Denny’s. After breakfast he would always strike up a conversation with someone in the restaurant. He brought a little joy to everyone he met.

Our Dad leaves us a legacy of love, kindness toward others, working hard to provide for our families, and never, never giving up. When asked, “What is the secret to your long marriage Bill?” He always said, “Always Faithful.”

Semper Fi, Dad, we love you and we will continue to carry on your legacy.

The funeral will be held at The Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery on January 30, 2015 at 1:20 PM, 1900 Buchanan Blvd. Boulder City NV 89005.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Bill's honor to Aegis Living, 9100 West Desert Inn Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89117.