Robert B. Hilliard

Robert “Red” Bruce Hilliard

Robert “Red” Hilliard, 77, of Missoula, passed away in his sleep Thursday, June 16, 2016 at home, of natural causes. He was born on July 19, 1938 in Blairsville, PA. The eighth of ten children, born to Arthur Clyde and Anna Marie (Fleming) Hilliard. As a boy, he helped his maternal uncles on the family farm, raced and wrecked cars, played high school football, became an Eagle Scout and got up to general mischief.

After graduating from high school, Red proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1958 to 1961. After many colorful adventures, he met Guadalupe “Lupe” Ruiz, also serving in the Air Force, and the couple married at Ft. Dix, N.J. on June 18, 1961. Saturday, June 18, 2016 would have been their 55th wedding anniversary.

After the wedding, Red and Lupe moved to Philadelphia, PA, where Red became a journeyman pipefitter with the Philadelphia Gas Works, and the couple had two children. As an avid hunter, Red came west to Montana on a hunting trip in the fall of 1970. He was so impressed with the beauty of the country that he and Lupe packed up the kids and moved to western Montana, after hiring on at the Montana Power Company, in 1972. Red was a member of the Local 459 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union, serving as shop steward at the Montana Power Company for many years. Red retired as the Gas Department Forman, after a 22 year career in 1997.

In 1990, while still employed at the Montana Power Company, Red purchased Fred’s Towing and Crane. He promptly dropped the “F” and the company became Red’s Towing and Accessories. Red and his family, grew that once small company into two of the largest towing companies in Missoula (with the addition of Pro Towing), and among the largest towing, vehicle detailing and vehicle accessory empires in the region. Red remained a vibrant part of the corporation until his passing.

In his spare time, Red became a skilled restorer of Model A cars and trucks. Red and the Big Sky A’s Model A Club were always crowd favorites at local parades and fund raisers, often donating their time and vehicles. Red, as past president of the Big Sky A’s, delivered many a lucky bride to her wedding in a beautifully restored, vintage Model A.

But at the heart of Red was his love of kids, and their love of him. The last 25+ years he’s spent joyfully involved in the lives of his grandchildren and great grandchildren, giving them life experiences they will never forget. Ever a generous man with his time, his love and his money, Red donated all he could to kids through St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, to many boy scouts as Scout Master Hilliard and through many road, fishing, hunting, camping and sporting event trips with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. The family home in Clinton, always referred to as “the ranch”, was a gathering place for all the neighborhood kids, because of Red. Even if being there meant picking rocks or moving sprinkler pipe, all the kids came there because Red made it fun.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Marie, brothers Melvin, Odell, and James, and sister Lucille “Toots” (Cable).

Survivors include wife, Lupe; son Robert Jr. (Monica); daughter Laura “Sis” (David) Maedche; grandchildren Brittany (Joshua) Cowan, and Anthony; great grandchildren Mason, and Madison Cowan, all of Missoula; brothers William (Dolores), Lower Burrell, PA and Clyde (Diane), Vail, AZ; sisters Mary Ann (John “Bub”) Zentner, Columbiana, Ohio, Betty Jean Hilliard, New Kensington, PA, and Marjorie “Marjie” (William) Aldrich, Saint Marys, PA., as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.

An informal memorial gathering will be held at 4:00 pm, Tuesday June 21, at First Presbyterian Church, 235 S. 5th St W., Missoula. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday June 22, at Garden City Funeral Home, 1705 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT. A reception will follow the service, and burial will take place after the reception, at the Missoula Veteran’s Cemetery, 1911 Tower St., Missoula, MT. Donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, in lieu of flowers, are suggested.