Cover photo for Chief W. David Hilton's Obituary
Chief W. David Hilton Profile Photo
1937 Chief 2016

Chief W. David Hilton

August 24, 1937 — April 10, 2016

HILTON, Chief W. David, 78 of Austell died on Sunday, April 10, 2016. A Celebration of his life will be held at 1:30pm on Thursday, April 14, 2016 at Trinity Chapel Church, 4665 Macland Rd. Powder Springs, Georgia 30127 with Dr. Ike Reighard, Dr. Richard Walker, Dr. Ragan Vandegriff and Pastors Ted McClung and Brandon Miller officiating. Interment will follow at Powder Springs Memorial Gardens. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Carolyn Bullock Hilton of Powder Springs, Daughter Candi Hilton Rawlins & Husband Charles McCoy Rawlins of Dallas, GA; Son Christopher David Hilton & Wife Kelli Greene Hilton of Kennesaw, GA; four grandchildren, Cristian Miller, Chase Rawlins, Will Hilton, Annsli Hilton; five great grandchildren, Gracin, Graham, Elise, Isabella, McKinley; nieces & nephews.

Chief Hilton was born in Haleyville, Alabama in August of 1937. He served in the US Air Force National Guard and US Air Force Reserve from 1953 until 1963 when he was honorably discharged. In 1955 he joined the Atlanta Fire Department where he worked until 1964. While working for the City of Atlanta he simultaneously served as Fire Chief of the local Powder Springs Fire Department until 1971. In 1971, Cobb County consolidated eight separate fire districts into one department which named David Hilton the first Fire Chief of the newly formed Cobb County Fire Department. Chief Hilton was instrumental in the development of the Emergency 911 System and the expansion of fire services to include the state of Georgia’s first Fire Education Division, Fire Arson Investigations and the implementation of Emergency Medical Services for the county. David believed his greatest accomplishment was the development and implementation of Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems that are currently included in building codes across the nation and internationally. Many programs and practices developed in Cobb County under Chief Hilton’s leadership have been adopted as standard practices and taught at the National Fire Academy and Leadership Courses around the country. Chief Hilton retired from Cobb County in January of 1994 after completing 39 dedicated years in the fire service. Chief Hilton held many positions of leadership and received numerous awards during his career including President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, President of the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs, President of the Georgia Fire Chiefs Association, State of Georgia Fire Marshall, member of the National Fire Protection Association (N.F.P.A.) and served on the N.F.P.A. Research Foundation Committee. Chief Hilton was honored by the American Fire Sprinklers Association with the prestigious Parmalee Award as the “Man of the Year”. Chief Hilton was honored by two United States Presidents. In 1971 President Nixon commended him for “Exceptional Service to Others” when he and two other firefighters disregarded their own personal safety to climb on a burning rail car, shutting off valves, preventing a major catastrophe to his community. Chief Hilton was again honored by President George H. Bush during his term as President of the International Association of Fire Chiefs for his leadership in promoting Life Safety & Fire Prevention across the Nation. David served his community and his church well. He served as Cobb Chapter President of the American Heart Association, Board of Directors for C-Mar Credit Union and awarded the National Walk of Honor Presented for his Support of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial. David was a Charter Member of Macland Baptist for over 50 years and became a Deacon in 1977. A life well lived and loved by all that he came in contact with across this nation. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made in his name to the Cobb County Death Benefit Fund and/or Cobb County Benevolence Fund @ Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services, 1595 County Services Parkway, Marietta, GA 30008, Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund: www.terryfund.org , Macland Baptist Church Property Fund: www.maclandbaptist.org

Trinity Chapel Church Building Fund: www.trinitychapel.org or the Georgia Fallen Firefighters Memorial Fund: www.gafallenfirefighters.org . The family will receive friends Tuesday, April 12, 2016 from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, 2016 from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Thursday, April 14, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Trinity Chapel Church. West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 2480 Macland Rd. Marietta, GA 30064. 770-419-9234 will be in charge of coordinating Chief Hilton’s Homecoming Celebration. Online guestbook available @ www.westcobbfuneralhome.com .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Chief W. David Hilton, please visit our flower store.

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Tuesday, April 12, 2016

6:00 - 9:00 pm (Eastern time)

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Thursday, April 14, 2016

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Celebration of Life

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Starts at 1:30 pm (Eastern time)

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