Herbert Claude Wilton

Herbert Claude Wilton was born on October 5, 1926 in Long Beach California to Herbert Percy Wilton and Hazel Orel (Burson) Wilton. Herb served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, and was a decorated golden glove boxer. He was honorably discharged after the war.

April 28, 1947 Herb married Barbara June Costelloe in Stevenson Washington. They had three children Claudia Wilton Carver, Catherine Lee Colley-Dominique and Herby Dean “Skip” Wilton. At the time of his death he had 9 Grandchildren, 22 Great Grand Children and 1 Great Great Grand Child.

Herb, with only an 8th grade education, held three patents and produced the Wipco Sideveyor. It is a gravel conveyor system that delivers gravel directly from the dump truck into pre-dug ditches so they no longer have to be filled by hand. He sold them internationally.

He worked as an excavating contractor for NW Natural Gas for 44 years and received many letters of recognition and accommodation from them. If you live in the Portland Metropolitan area he probably dug up your street at least once.

Herb was an avid car enthusiast. He owned a rare Cord car which he stored at his aunts when he went into the service, and was mortified to discover she had parted it out in his absence. He raced car #48 in the early years of the Portland Speedway. He was one of the first, in the Pacific NW, to build a go-cart in his own shop. With his buddies he actually raced it, won many trophies, and qualified for the nationals. When Jimmy Dean performed at the Memorial Coliseum he rode Herb’s go-cart around as a surprise for the crowd.

Herb had a great love for animals. He raised boxer dogs under the American Kennel Club name Wilton Haven, and sold dogs as far away as Soule Korea. He had many other dogs from Great Danes to mutts. There were always cats from his first Siamese, Ming Toi, to the multiple strays that gathered around the family home for a free meal and loving attention.

He bought his first exotic cat, a small tree cat that lives primarily in Asia, known as a margay. This was followed by Ocelots, Pumas, North American Cougars, and a Bob Cat. Many of these cats were rescued and used for educational purposes included at OMSI. He also accumulated two monkeys and a fox. He rescued a crow with a broken leg which he was able to return back to the wild.

He and Barbara joined the Long Island Ocelot Club (L.I.O.C), dedicated to the preservation of exotic animals; they both recieved the organizations highest honor, the Lotty award, for their service.

Herb built a very small 1 bedroom home on SE 46th off of Woodstock after he and Barbara were married. They lived in that home with their 3 children for eight years until they moved to a beautiful country estate where he lived for 56 years until his death.

Herb died peacefully cradled in the arms of his daughter Claudia with his Granddaughter Monica holding his hand with her head on his shoulder. It was an honor to be present during his transition and to know he went peacefully surrounded by love.