Hilty, Barbara Mary Koller (1882-1960)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Aug 11 p. 8, 10

Birth date: 1882 May 22

text of obituary:

BARBARA KOLLER HILTY

Barbara May Koller was born near Donnellson, Iowa, on May 22, 1882, the first child of Daniel and Anna Rings Koller. Her mother died when she was still quite young, leaving Barbara to assume part of the responsibilities of a mother to her younger brothers and sisters. She became a member of the Zion Mennonite church near Donnellson, and on Feb. 10, 1907, married Rev. Peter P. Hilty, who had come from Bluffton, Ohio to be pastor of the church.

They became the parents of eight children, Carl, Paul, Esther (Mrs. Roy Gerber), Winifred (Mrs. Claud Lutman), and Dorothy (Mrs. Ed Baumgartner), all of Versailles, Mo.; Hiram of Guilford College, North Carolina; Calvin of Strathmore, Calif., and Peter, Jr. of Parkville, Mo.

Always a lover of children, Mrs. Hilty was privileged to be a grandmother to 26 and a great-grandmother to four. Several years ago Rev. and Mrs. Hilty celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Mrs. Hilty served for many years as a Sunday school teacher and in the work of the ladies missionary society.

In June of last year Mrs. Hilty suffered a stroke which left her an invalid. During this time she was cared for in her own home until the death of her husband in September. Later she was cared for in the homes of her daughters Winifred and Esther. She passed away on July 17 at the age of 78 years, one month and 27 days.

In addition to her children and grandchildren she leaves at her death, two brothers, Ernest and Walter Koller of near Donnellson; and three sisters, Ruth (Mrs. Carl Hershler) of near Donnellson, Anna (Mrs. Benedetto) of San Francisco, and Clara (Mrs. Marion Overton) of Mount Pleasant, Iowa. One sister, Kate (Mrs. Dan Smithson), preceded her in death.

The family wishes to thank the many friends who, during her long period as an invalid and at the recent death of her husband and our father, have remembered her and us with letters, visits and prayers.

The Mennonite obituary: 1960 Oct 25 p. 694