Herman Gale Hilty, 94, pdied June 29, 2021, at his residence. Herman was born March 6, 1927, in Pandora to the late Harvey and Delilah (Amstutz) Hilty.  On Dec. 26, 1954 he married Myrtle "Gay" Miller Hilty who preceded him in death on Sept. 12, 1996.

Herman was a 1945 graduate of Pandora High School. He won back-to-back state titles and set the state mile record in 1944 and 1945. Herman was chosen to run at the AAU Nationals Track meet in New York City at Randall's Island in 1945 placing seventh. He served in the United States Army in 1955-1956. 

Herman worked at Sylvania Corporation in Ottawa, as a welder at Remlingers Manufacturing in Kalida, worked in maintenance at the Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton, drove semi-truck for the DOT Line Trucking and Top Line Trucking in Lima but his first love was being a life-long farmer. 

Survivors include six children, Rolland Hilty of New Paris, Indiana, Sheila (Steve) Harrigan of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Craig (Sarah) Hilty of Pandora, Elaine (Brion) Basinger of Pandora,  Karen Hilty of Pandora, Steven (Brenda) Hilty of Pandora; sixteen grandchildren, Joshua (Jamie) Hilty, Daniel (Jessica) Hilty, Andrew (Carrie) Hilty, Nathan Hilty, Tim (Anne) Harrigan,  Rachel (Octavious) McPherson, Jonathan (Mallory) Harrigan, David (Ashley) Harrigan, Caleb, Cameron Hilty, Adam (Kaitlyn) Basinger, Austin (Carrie) Basinger, Amber (Ben) Schuemann, Abram (Jennifer) Basinger, Seth Hilty, Isaac Hilty, 17 great-grandchildren and three great-grandchildren on the way.

Herman was preceded in death by four sisters, Marjorie Bayman, Ruth Hilty, Geneva Samsal and Lois Hilty.

Services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, July 10, at Pandora Missionary Church.  Pastor Matthew Steiner officiating. Private burial will be in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, Pandora. Visitation will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until time of the service at the church.   

Memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International or Pandora Missionary Church.  

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.

Chiles-Laman Funeral & Cremation Services, Bluffton is honored to be providing services to Herman's family.