Frederick Lee Hilger |
| Posted 2009-01-25 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Saturday, December 31, 2005 Frederick Lee Hilger, age 87, of Prescott, Ariz., died Dec. 24, 2005, in Prescott. He was born Sept. 25, 1918, in Tyler, Texas, to Charles L. Hilger and Maude De Bolt. Attorney, pilot, farmer, rancher, CPA, PT boat captain, professor, printer, actor, advocate, deacon; he was all of these at some point in his life, but his focus always remained with his family. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He always accentuated the positive, believed in taking action, in looking forward, and that making a mistake was fine just as long as you learned something from it. He was an inspiration to us and his absence leaves a void too big to describe. Mr. Hilger graduated from Hallsville High School, Texas, with honors in 1936 and from Baylor University in 1942. His education at Baylor was interrupted by his duty in the Navy, where he saw action at Pearl Harbor aboard the U.S.S. Tennessee and later as a PT Boat Captain. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, he met the love of his live, Maryann Ayers, at a USO dance. On Dec. 27, 1942, they married and together embarked on a life hallmarked by devotion to each other and their four children. After the war, he was a practicing CPA and an adjunct Accounting Professor at University of San Francisco, while he attended law school. He graduated from the University of San Francisco, School of Law, in 1950, and in 1951 moved the family to Eureka, Calif., where he practiced law for the next 35 years. He held a private pilot's license and loved to fly, using his plane to travel to and from court appearances and meetings with clients all over the state. He was a true advocate for his clients, believing that they deserved the very best that he could give them. Many of his clients became family friends. After moving to the Casa Grande area he "retired" and began working full time as an advocate for the elderly being served by the Gila-Pinal Area 1 Agency on Aging until his Parkinson's disease prevented him from continuing. He moved to Prescott in 2003. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Maryann; daughters Carolyn Olsen of Arcadia, Calif., Ruth (Dennis) Harrison of Prescott, and Judy (Bill) Lebbs, of Casa Grande; grandchildren, Lyn Olsen of Benicia, Calif., Curt (Rose) Olsen of Roseville, Calif., Alysha (Gordon) Hein of Clovis, Calif., Mathew and Kristin Hilger of Maryland, Heather, Denise, Danny and Brian Harrison of Prescott, and Billy Lebbs of Casa Grande. He also leaves three great-grandchildren, Trey Olsen of Roseville and Rowan and Dashiell Hein of Clovis; his sister-in-law, Nancy Hilger of Texas; nephews and niece, Pat, Jimmy, Bobby, and Nancy Hilger of Texas; and daughter-in-law, Anne Marshall of Vista, Calif. He was preceded in death by his son, Frederick L. Hilger, Jr.; his brother, Chuck; and his parents. Services will be held Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006, at 1 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church, 702 Cottonwood Lane, Casa Grande. Hampton Funeral Home assisted the family with the arrangements. Information provided by survivors. |
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