Daniel C. Hildreth, 96, a resident of Elma, Washington, died Feb. 21, 2022. The youngest son of Charles G. and Sadie Hildreth was born Aug. 15, 1925, in Bunker Hill, Illinois.

He joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 when World War II started. He remained in the Navy until his retirement in 1975 as a Senior Chief Petty Officer. He was also a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars. In 2010, he was honored by his high school with the diploma he did not receive due to his enlistment for World War II.

After his service to his country, he served as a leader in a Klamath Falls, Oregon wood products company he eventually retired from. He was elected to the board of directors of the local credit union and eventually served as the chairman of the board. Ten years after retirement from the Navy he was appointed by the Chief of US Naval Operations to serve as a consultant on the national board for retirement benefits for three years.

He was a man of many talents that included repairing watches/clocks, aircraft of all kinds, computers, vehicles and TVs, and constructing homes and churches. He served on the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and his church disaster relief teams well into his 90s. His help and advice will be missed by all.

He was a lifelong Christian. As he moved many times to Naval duty stations across the nation, he and his family would start a new church of his faith. He never wavered in his love for God.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, LoWanda Hildreth. He is survived by his four children: Marcia Crawford, Klamath Falls, Oregon; Charles Hildreth, Elma, Washington; Joy Breedlove, Redmond, Oregon and Frank Hildreth, Chehalis, Washington; four grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews as well as great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on May 21, 2022, 10:30 a.m. at Mc Kenzie Road Baptist Church, 215 McKenzie Road S.W. Olympia, Washington. The Rev Dan Panter will officiate. A military honors ceremony and inurnment will follow at 1:15 p.m. that day in Mills Memorial Park, Tumwater.

Arrangements are by Mills & Mills Funeral Home, Tumwater.