Hilda Hankins Christian

Hilda Hankins Christian died peacefully on Wednesday October 4, 2017 after a long illness. Hilda was born on April 27, 1926 in Sycamore, VA, to Edward and Myrtle Hankins. She grew up in rural Pittsylvania County in the 1930's as one of a family of ten children. She attended a one room schoolhouse and was known to “stop and smell the roses” on the way to school, often causing her older siblings to be late for school. Hilda carried this curiosity for life through the rest of her years. As World War II ended, Hilda made her way to Richmond where she met Landon “Chris” Christian, a Marine Corps Fighter Pilot. They married at Monumental Church on October 5, 1946, raised two daughters and enjoyed 71 years together. Over the years, they lived in various Marine Corps communities and several places in the Commonwealth. Hilda was a regular and active communicant at various Episcopal Churches in the towns she lived in, especially St. Thomas' Church in Abingdon, VA and St. Elizabeth's Church in Roanoke, VA.

Hilda took delight in spending time with her very large family and often returned to Pittsylvania County to visit with her brothers and sisters and their families. She enjoyed handwork of all kinds – quilting, sewing, knitting, and crocheting. She made a quilt for each of her grandchildren and loved making doll clothes. She was an avid gardener and had a genuine love of plants. It was said that she could make anything grow. She loved being around babies and got great pleasure out of her job at the Children's Home Society in Roanoke. She is preceded in death by 4 brothers and 2 sisters, and survived by three brothers; Harold (Carol), Stanley (Peggy) and Ryland (Jane).

She is survived by her loving husband, Chris, and her two daughters and their husbands; Martha Christian Santoro (Michael) and Julie Christian Michael (Hal). She is also survived by four grandchildren; Sally Cunningham, David Michael, Mary Catherine Santoro, and Anne Loomis, as well as 7 great grandchildren.

A memorial service, celebrating her life, will be held at St. David's Episcopal Church, 1801 Camborne Rd. in North Chesterfield at 1 pm on Saturday October 14, 2017.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in Hilda's memory to Episcopal Relief and Development PO Box 7058 Merrifield VA 22116-7058, in support of victims of the recent hurricanes.