Hilton Petway

Hilton D. Petway, 75, of Wilson died April 25, 2021, in his home.

Funeral, Friday, 2:00 PM, Ascension Lutheran Church.  Burial, Maplewood Cemetery.  The visitation will be at Wilson Memorial Service, Thursday, 6:30 – 8:00 PM. Social distancing and masks are suggested.

Hilton was raised at Rosebud in Elm City. He married his high school sweetheart in 1965 and they shared many travels and adventures together with their daughter.  He served 6 years in the Army Reserves Hilton was a telephone man for 45 years with Carolina Telephone (later Embarq).  He was in business services and was in and out of most of the businesses in Wilson and knew hundreds of people....generally not by name but he could tell you where they worked.  He installed and maintained the county's 911 system for many years.  He never met a stranger and always had a smile, a joke or a quick comeback.  Hilton loved carpentry, traveling, and would volunteer to help with most any project that you could dream up.  He loved working at Ascension Lutheran Church where he served on church council. the property committee and for 50 years he sang in the choir.  He spent many hours working at Ascension changing light bulbs, fixing just about anything that was broken, building, working in the yard.  He loved the work and he loved the people  Hilton was always willing to help with projects but rarely asked for help himself.  In retirement, he assisted with Habitat, taught himself how to make and install shiplap, and designed and built shelf units, tables, and helped do several interior remodeling projects. Hilton was also a blood donor for 55 years.  Red Cross records indicate that he made 170 donations totaling 21 gallons and 2 pints.  Hilton also traveled to all 50 states with Dalen and Sharon.  Driving to the 48 contiguous states then flying and/or cruising to Alaska and Hawaii and then driving around those states.  He was a great shopping partner often finding things Dalen and Sharon couldn't and when he was done, he'd find a bench and someone to talk to.  Hilton was laid back and hard to make angry.  He lived and embodied the scripture "whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might".  Ecclesiastes 9:10

Surviving is his wife, Dalen Lanier Petway; daughter, Sharon P. Wethington (Mark) of Elm City; sisters, Bonnie Bass of Fremont and Betty Jean Phillips of Clinton; brother, Milton Petway of Graham.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Veterans Residential Services, 2500 Nash St, N, Ste E, Wilson, NC 27896-1394.

A Memorial Tree was planted for Hilton

We are deeply sorry for your loss - the staff at Wilson Memorial Service

Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree