Thomas C. Hildebrand, Sr., of Mount Pleasant, died April 15. He was born on June 18, 1935 (his mother’s birthday also) in Pascagoula, Mississippi, where he spent his youth. He was the youngest of three children and was preceded in death by his sister, Virginia, and is survived by his brother, Graham. Tom attended Pascagoula schools and graduated in 1953. He was active in the Beta Club and played in the Mississippi All-Star football game in 1953. He also played in the local softball league. Tom attended The Citadel and graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1957. He was a Color Sgt carrying the SC Flag, a class officer, and was selected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Tom was the first Company Commander of T Company after it was reactivated following its deactivation in World War II. Tom adored and is survived by his wife Gloria Cope Hildebrand of Mount Pleasant, SC, to whom he was married for 57 years. They had five children: Terri Cope Curran of Landenburg, PA; Gloria Elizabeth Cabiness of Guantanamo, Cuba; Tom Hildebrand, Jr. of Mount Pleasant, SC; Holly Jo Patterson of Mount Pleasant, SC; and Kristofer Feurer of Wilmington, NC. Tom served in the 82nd Airborne Division for two years after graduation from The Citadel and went to work for the DuPont Company in 1960. His assignments carried him to DE, SC, NC, Germany, Ohio, PA, Mexico, LA and Michigan. He was transferred a number of times and retired as an Engineering Department Executive after 31 years, and then moved to Mount Pleasant with Gloria. He enjoyed woodworking in his shop, cooking pigs on his cooker, and traveling with Gloria to all parts of the world. He is survived by three sons-in-law and a daughter-in-law, plus twenty grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. An active member of the First Baptist Church of Mount Pleasant, he served on the Board of Deacons, was a Sunday School teacher, and sang in the Sr. Adult Choir. Tom was deeply loved and will be sorely missed by his family and friends. Most missed will be the heart-warming and beaming smile following by Tom’s trademark bear hug that he imparted to everyone he cared about every time he saw them. A Celebration of Tom’s Life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 18, 2015 in the First Baptist Church of Mount Pleasant, 681 McCants Drive, followed by a bar-b-que reception. A private family interment will be held at a later date. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 17, 2015 from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at the J. HENRY STUHR, INC. MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road. A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston
Posted in:
Posted on:
Link to original obituary: