John Edwin Hildebrand

Jack Hildebrand of Hagerstown, Maryland died peacefully in his sleep on June 11th, 2024 while in hospice care with his family present. He was 92.

John Edwin Hildebrand was the son of Clyde Gardner Hildebrand and Virginia Mumma Hildebrand, both deceased. He was preceded in death by brothers Richard M. “Dick” Hildebrand and Robin D. “Bob” Hildebrand, his loving wife of 61 years, Peggy Rebecca Snapp Hildebrand, and his lifelong friends Elmer Baum and Donald Bare.  

He is survived by sons Michael S. Hildebrand and wife JoAnne Fish Hildebrand, Mount Dora, FL and David A. Hildebrand , wife Barbara A. Hildebrand, and Elizabeth A. “Beth” Fields Dowdell and her husband Michael of Falling Waters WVa. 

Jack was very fond of his cousins Gene Hildebrand, Chandler AZ, Bonard Morgan, Keedesville MD and close to his nieces Cheryl (Hildebrand) Reece Gilbert AZ, and  Sue Ann (Baum) Summerfelt Sharpsburg, MD.

He loved playing cards at lunchtime with his close friends Jim Balog, Chris Juliet, Joe Saunders and all other players. This card game was in play weekly for over 30 years and he often claimed that he was the only player that did not cheat!

Jack graduated from the Hagerstown High School class of 1949.  He enlisted in U.S. Navy June 19, 1949 and attended basic training at Great Lakes, IL and was then assigned to the Naval Air Technical Training Center Memphis, TN where he attended airman preparation and aviation structural Class A schools.  While going to technical school Jack was a member of the base boxing team that entered the regional “Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions” held in the Memphis auditorium February 1950. Fighting in the welterweight class, he won two fights defeating Bochie Wells, University of Mississippi and Jonny Floyd of Mississippi State University but lost championship final bout to Buddy Leggett of Aberdeen, Mississippi. After completing training at NATTC he was assigned to Squadron VJ-61, an aviation operating squadron at NAS Miramar, San Diego, CA. The squadron had detachments worldwide. While flying Navy PB4Y1’s (WWII 

B-24” Liberator”), during the Korean War, he spent 6 months at NAS Kodiak, Alaska (Detachment Baker) as a flight crew member with the rank AM2 structural mechanic – waist gunner and 3 months assigned to “Detachment Queen” in French Indo China.

After honorable discharge, April 1953, he worked at Fairchild Aircraft final assembly (C-120) 1- year.  He was then employed by E.I. DuPont at their Potomac Works Explosives manufacturing plant at Falling Waters, WV where he retired after 31 years of employment.  While working at DuPont he also spent 5 years serving in the 167^th Air National Guard based at Martinsburg, WV and discharged in 1968 as a Technical Sergeant.  After retiring he worked remodeling their home, performing maintenance repairs, painting homes for family and neighbors or anyone who needed any “handman” work.  During the same time he spent many happy hours working part-time with Sam, Bea, David and Terrie Leiter and “Uncle Dave” at Leiters Fine Catering for 13 years.

He was a life member of the Alsatia Club, Inc. serving as a board member, activities committee co-chairman, Mummer’s Parade ticket committee co-chairman, and club cook. He was a life member of BPOE 378 Hagerstown, MD and Post 211 American Legion Funkstown, MD.

He was a member of Washington Square United Methodist Church.

Funeral service will be held on June 17, 2024 at Rest Haven Funeral Home and Cemetery located at 1601 Pennsylvania Avenue, Hagerstown, MD beginning at 12:00 p.m. with a two hour visitation prior from 10:00-12:00. A graveside service will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Hospice of the Panhandle, 330 Hospice Lane, Kearneysville, WVa 25430 or the Washington Square United Methodist Church, 538 Washington Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740.