John W. Hiltibidal, 82, of Walnut Hill, Illinois, died Tuesday evening, March 9, 1999, at St. Mary’s-Good Samaritian Hospital in Centralia. He was a retired carman and welder for the Illinois Central Railroad and a Free Will Baptist minister. Mr. Hiltibidal had served as minister for several Free Will Baptist Churches throughout southern Illinois in a career which lasted for over 50 years.
He was born on June 18, 1916, in Odin, Illinois, a son of George H. and Ruby (Frost) Hiltibidal. On October 26, 1941, in McLeansboro, he married Ellamae Harrelson, who survives. He was a member of Pleasant View Free Will Baptist Chuith, where he established his original membership in 1934.
The funeral was at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 13, 1999, at Pleasant View Free Will Baptist Church. The Rev. David Shore and Rev. Clifton Buchanan officiated. Burial was in Mt. Olivet Cemetery near McLeansboro at 2:00 p.m. L.R. Osborn and Son Funeral Home in Kell, Illinois, was in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Hiltibidal is survived by one son, Lt. Cmdr. John S. Hiltibidal and wife Julie of Tacoma, Washington; three daughters, Anita Bain and husband William of Centralia, Mary Louise Seawell and husband B. Holt of Greenfield, California, and Ruby Lynn Smith and husband Adrian of Wayne City; two sisters, Opal Hiltibidal and Edna Ryan, both of Walnut Hill; brothers, Charles Hiltibidal of McLeansboro, George Hiltibidal Jr. of Centralia and Bert Hiltibidal of Salem; 11 grandchildren, Danya Maas, Jonathan Bain, Carol Ann Bain, Greg Bain, Beth Lantz, Christy Seawell, Gretta LaGuna, Heather Chalos, Adrian Lee Smith, Nancy Smith, Jordan Huggins; and great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Pleasant View Church at L.R. Osborn & Son Funeral Home in Kell.