Palestine High School Alumni Association

02 / 22 / 1920  –  06 / 23 / 1992

Services for Howard R. Hilton, 72, of Palestine will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Land of Memory Cemetery with the Rev. Lynn Parker officiating.  Arrangements are under the director Herrington Land of Memory Funeral Home.  Mr. Hilton died Tuesday at his home after a length illness.

He was born February 22, 1920 in Palestine to Jasper Nelson and Virginia Brock Hilton.  During World War II, he served as a pilot in the Army Air Corps and was qualified to fly all but four of the Air Corps’ aircraft in service at that time.  He flew 99 missions in the Chana-Burma-India airlift and among numerous decorations, was awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.  He retired from the Air Force Reserves in 1967 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Mr. Hilton retired from the U.S. Postal Service and also had worked for Missouri-Pacific Railroad.   He was a lifelong resident of Palestine and was a member of the First Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Jean in 1956.

He is survived by his wife, Pauline Butler Hilton of Palestine; son, Howard Richard Hilton, Jr. of Houston; daughters, Helen Hull of Garland and Mrs. Tim (Lindy) Triplett of Missouri City; and three grandchildren.

The family will receive condolences from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.