Hilton, Carole Willson

Carole Willson Hilton passed away March 26, 2013, with her daughters at her side. Carole fiercely fought multiple cancers for over a year.

Born in Rome, N.Y., to Ida and Clarence Miller, she was a precocious child who would develop a love of travel. Carole lived many years in Sonoma and Napa, Calif., before returning to Cedar Rapids.

She attended Wayne School of Nursing in New York and would retire from Mercy Medical Center after 29 years where she made many lifelong friends. If you knew Carole, you knew a person with great wit, humor and zest for Life.

She married Robert Willson and together they had three daughters, Robyn Hernandez (Dan), Tracey Sullivan (Brad), and Tara Bennett. Together they grieved greatly over the loss of two sons.

As per her wishes, her body was donated to the University of Iowa's Anatomy Department.

Please direct memorials to The Hall-Perrine Cancer Center.

Her daughters have planned a Celebration of Life for April 7 from 2 to 5 p.m. at The Hallagan Room, Mercy Medical Center.

Mourning her loss are her daughters; grandchildren, Brooke Armstrong (Lance), Jim Willson, Ryan Oberthien, Kilee and Layne Sullivan, Scott, Taylor and Shelby Bennett; and great-grandchildren, Ashley and Michael Armstrong, Kiersten and Taryn Oberthien, Alexie Bennett, Kyra Kirk, Richie Moran.

Carole was a friend of Bill W.

“God has been beside me all of my life.”

Published March 29, 2013 in The Gazette