Robert Wiley Hilton

Robert Wiley Hilton, born March 8, 1938, in Kershaw, SC, to the late John Thomas Hilton and Tressie Mae Catoe Hilton. Robert passed to the arms of Jesus on May 7 from Belaire Health Care in Gastonia where he was well loved and cared for. His two daughters, who he referred to as his "two best friends" were holding his hands when he passed.

Robert was always a hard worker. He worked for Cone Mills in Pineville until they closed the doors. He was known there as "Big Boy". After they closed, he went to work for Parkdale Mills in Belmont where he worked until he thought he had retired. After leaving Parkdale, he went to work frying chicken at Bojangles in Belmont where he was fondly known as the "Chicken Man". He made the best chicken that Bojangles ever had. Some people would only eat there on the days he worked.

Robert's most important work was not a paid position. His work was to tell people about Jesus. Our daddy was a talker who never met a stranger. He would tell you about his God and how good he was whether you wanted to hear it or not. He preached at the nursing home in Charlotte for 42 1/2 years, rarely ever missing a Sunday until his health declined and Covid hit. Even though he was no longer able to preach there it did not stop him from sharing his message. At every doctors visit, hospital and rehab stays, and at his final home, Belaire Nursing Home, he told how good his God had been to him and how you needed him too. Dementia stole a lot from our daddy, but his love for Jesus and his faith remained until the end. His two favorite things to tell everyone was "God love you and so do I" and "Have a blessed day."

In addition to his parents, Robert was preceded in death by the love of his life, Margaret Hilton (Babe). They had been married for 53 years at her death 12 years ago. He was also preceded in death by his granddaughter, Kylie Shaver; and his siblings, Paul, Tommy, Jimmy, Roger, and Jane. He is survived by his daughters, Deborah Hilton of Belmont and Sherry Shaver (Allan) of Zebulon, NC; his siblings, Frankie Hilton (Ann) of Ocala, FL, and Kathy Faile (Foster) of Port Orange, FL; his pride and joy, his little buddy and number one grandson, Joshua Shaver of Zebulon, NC; and many nieces and nephews that dearly loved him too.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at East Belmont Church of God. The family will receive friends from 2:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the church. Condolence messages may be sent to the family by visiting www.woodlawnfuneral.org. Woodlawn Funeral Home of Mount Holly is caring for Mr. Hilton's family.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Church of God Children's Home in care of East Belmont Church of God.

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