Miss Hilton, 49, a native of Rumson and more recently of Sea Bright and Little Silver, died Nov. 8, 2011, at home. Before graduating from Rumson High School in 1980, she was educated in Rumson’s Forestdale School, in the Eatontown School, and at the Monmouth ARC’s Hudson Street School. Miss Hilton’s career in the hospitality business began at Fort Monmouth’s Officer’s Club and reached its peak at McLoone’s Rum Runner Restaurant in Sea Bright, where she advanced from entry-level custodian in 1988 to special adviser to CEO Tim McLoone. The onset of Alzheimer’s disease forced her to retire from McLoone’s in 2006. Miss Hilton swam for the New Jersey Women’s Special Olympics Relay Team at the International Special Olympics at the University of Notre Dame in 1987 and at the University of Minnesota in 1991, where she also medaled in the 100-meter individual medley. She was predeceased by her parents, John and Lucy Hilton; her maternal grandparents, Earl and Irene (Bostwick) Scott; and her paternal grandparents, Alexander and Lillian (Gilbertson) Hilton. She is survived by the four members of her core team, Sarah Hilton of Little Silver; her two companions, Luba Pikanin of Eatontown and Sharon Stewart of Neptune; a brother/guardian, the Rev. Hank Hilton of Baltimore and Colts Neck; her brothers Jamie, Peter, Mark and John; a sister, Lucy Minder; and 18 nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Nov. 19 at St. Mary’s Church, Phalanx Road and Route 34, Colts Neck, followed by lunch in the church hall. In addition to sending cut flowers that can be distributed to area nursing homes, Miss Hilton requested two or three hands-on acts of kindness in her name and then sending Father Hilton a report of those acts. Arrangements are by Thompson Funeral Home, Red Bank.
