Gross James Hildreth (1912-2009)
HILDRETH, GROSS, WILSON
Posted By: Ames Tribune
Date: 3/4/2009 at 21:53:13
THE AME TRIBUNE, Ames, Story County, Iowa, Wednesday, March 4, 2009.
Gross James Hildreth passed away Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, surrounded by family at his home in Poway, Calif. A private memorial service will be at their Poway residence.
Beach, as he was known to most of his friends, was born May 17, 1912, to James H. and Caroline Gross Hildreth at their home in Rands, Iowa. He was the youngest of eight children, one sister and six brothers. He graduated from Lohrville High School in 1930 and attended Iowa State College until he was financially unable to continue.
He married Dorothy Wilson on June 14, 1936, at Hildreth Memorial Church in Le Mars, which his parents were instrumental in establishing. Beach and Dorothy lived in Rockwell City until 1946, when the family moved to Ames. He worked for Phillips Petroleum Company for more than 30 years. After he retired from Phillips, he owned and operated a business that sold carwash equipment for another 15 years.
In 1985, he and Dorothy made three trips with a moving van to San Diego to enjoy their retirement near family. They enjoyed attending family reunions at locations around the country and internationally. They also owned numerous RVs over the years and traveled in their RV to support the Iowa State Cyclones while living in Ames and made many trips to Iowa after moving to San Diego. They were members of the San Diego Rolling Homes, a club for local owners of Winnebago motor homes.
While living in Ames, Beach and Dorothy served for many years as hosts in the Gold Room at the Hilton Coliseum and in the Club Section at Jack Trice Stadium.
He was joined by his wife and sons at the Iowa State Fair in 2000 to be recognized as owning a Century Farm, a farm that was acquired by his father in 1900.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church of San Diego, and he and Dorothy were longtime members of First United Methodist Church of Ames before their move to San Diego.
He was especially proud of his two sons, Bruce, a medical doctor who graduated from Ames High School in 1958, and Kent, an attorney who graduated from Ames High School in 1964.
He was diagnosed with Meniere’s disease in 1941, and on his death donated his inner ears for research of this disease.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Dorothy; son, Bruce (Anke), of Bonita Springs, Fla., and his two sons, Ryan and Royce, and Royce’s wife, Patti, and their two children, Tyler and Brooke, all of San Diego; and son, Kent and his wife, Linda, of San Diego, and their two children, Spencer, of San Diego, and Trisha, of San Francisco, and daughter-in-law, Hanne Hildreth, of South Lake Tahoe, Calif. He is also survived by many nephews and nieces and other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Elizabeth Hospice, 150 W. Crest St., Escondido, CA. 92025, or the charity of your choice.
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