Evelyn Naomi Griffitts Hilt

Evelyn Naomi Griffitts Hilt, age 88, passed away on Sunday, October 11, 2015, at Johnston Memorial Hospital. She was born to the late Roy Lee Griffitts and Nancy Mitchell Griffitts on November 16, 1926, in Tannersville, VA. She graduated from Rich Valley High School. As a young woman, Evelyn moved to Kingsport, TN and was employed in the sales department of the Kingsport Press. She married Fredrick Rhudy Hilt on November 7, 1945, and the couple made their home in her native Tannersville. There they were blessed with two sons, Roy William “R.W.” Hilt and Charles Rhudy Hilt. In 1965 the Hilt family relocated to Washington County, VA where she was a faithful member of Byars-Cobbs Memorial United Methodist Church and later became a member of Abingdon United Methodist Church. She retired from HAPCO after 27 years of service. In addition to her parents, Evelyn was also preceded in death by her husband; three sisters, Katherine Willis, Maryland Grant, and Betty Allison; and a brother, Philander “Phil” Griffitts. She is survived by her sons, Roy William “R.W.” Hilt and wife Jane of Abingdon, VA and Charles Rhudy Hilt and wife Alice of Grand Rapids, MI; two sisters, Janie Smith and husband Fred of Ripley, WV and Ann Stevenson and husband Robert of Orange City, FL; four grandchildren: Patrick Hilt and wife Jody of Blacksburg, VA; Christa Hilt of New York, NY; Amanda Thomas of Grand Rapids, MI; and Adam Hilt and wife Amanda of Traverse City, MI; and 9 great grandchildren. Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 15, 2015, at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service. A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev. Clarence Dishman officiating. Entombment will follow at the Chapel of Memories Mausoleum of Forest Hills Memory Gardens where nephews, Blake Yost, Harry Yost, Fred Hackney, Don Hilt, Ralph Hilt, and Jim Caldwell, will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be nieces and additional nephews, Martha Jo Caldwell, Aylene Burns, Debbie Cook, Leslie Newton, Kim Stevenson, Mark Grant, Greg Grant, Jon Grant, Jeff Allison, Rod Stevenson, and Todd Smith. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the memorial fund at Byars-Cobbs Memorial United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 667, Glade Spring, VA 24340. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of Commonwealth Assisted Living. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guestbook. The family of Evelyn Naomi Griffitts Hilt is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service and Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210 (276-623-2700).