HILDER, REVEREND HAROLD LOUIS It is with great sadness that the family of Reverend Harold Louis Hilder announces the death of a beloved husband, father and grandfather on 1 October 2007 at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital, Fredericton, New Brunswick. Harold was a kind and generous person who always considered the welfare of others before his own. His quiet strength and deep personal faith touched the lives and hearts of all who knew him. Harold was born in Valley, Colchester County, Nova Scotia, on 15 November 1929, to James and Gertrude (Brown) Hilder, and graduated from Colchester County Academy in 1948. After two years of working in the actuarial department of the Continental Life Insurance Company in Toronto, Ontario, he was recommended by St. Columba United Church in Toronto and accepted as a candidate for the ministry of the United Church of Canada by Toronto Centre Presbytery. He entered Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, in September, 1950 and graduated with a B.A. degree in May, 1953. He continued his education with theological studies at Pine Hill Divinity Hall in Halifax, Nova Scotia, now the Atlantic School of Theology. On 2 June 1955, he was ordained by the Toronto Conference of the United Church of Canada. While a student, he served with the Canadian Officers Training Corps at Camp Borden and Camp Petawawa, and on a United Church mission field at Lewvan, Saskatchewan. Following ordination he was posted to Camp Hagersville, Ontario, as a Royal Canadian Army Chaplain. He continued for several years as a Captain in the Canadian Army Reserve. During his ministry of fifty two years, Harold served God and The United Church of Canada on pastoral charges in both the Bay of Quinte and Maritime Conferences, including: Chalk River and Arden in Ontario; Orangedale, Nova Scotia; and Petitcodiac, Marysville (Fredericton), Glassville-Juniper, Sheffield, and Lincoln in New Brunswick. He retired on 24 May 1990 but continued his work in both Sheffield and Lincoln as a retired supply minister. Over the course of a long career, he served his church in many official capacities including: Commissioner to the Twenty-Fourth General Council of the United Church of Canada in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in 1971; Chairman of the Inverness, Nova Scotia, and later the Chignecto and Woolastook Presbyteries in New Brunswick; and on numerous Conference and Presbytery Committees. At the time of his death he was the minister of Wesley United Church of Canada in Lincoln, NB. Harold was an active member of the local organizations in every community in which he lived. He was a member of Alexandria Lodge No.33 F. & A.M. (Devon) and in 2007 he was honoured by the Grand Lodge of New Brunswick with his fifty year certificate as a member of the Masonic Order. During the time he served the River and Lakeside Pastoral Charge (Orangedale, Cape Breton) he was also the Secretary of the Inverness County Hospital Board for several years. While living in Petitcodiac he was the Worthy Patron of Regina Chapter #39, Order of the Eastern Star, and active member and president of the Kiwanis Club, and Secretary of the Committee which established the first Westmoreland County Fair. He led youth groups in several pastoral charges, including a large Cub Group in St. James United Church in Petitcodiac, and served as Chaplain of Royal Canadian Legion Branches in both Petitcodiac and Marysville. Harold excelled in sports especially rugby, curling and bowling, and was a great fan of Toronto hockey, football and baseball teams. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Kathryn (Johnston) Hilder; one daughter, Ruth (John) Buckingham; four sons, John (Beverly), Bruce (Bibianne Lavigne), Peter (Karen Ward), Robert (Eloise Boucher), and one daughter-in-law Lynn Hilder; eight grandchildren; Christopher, Jeremy, Kathryn (Katie), Allison, Alexander and Jacob Hilder and Jillian and Naomi Buckingham, two sisters Barbara Walker and Eileen (Walter) McConville; one sister-in-law, Doris Hilder; and aunts, uncle, nieces, nephews and cousins. Beside his parents, he was predeceased by his son David, his sister Helen Harrison, brother Leslie Hilder, and brothers-in-law Lloyd Walker and Henry Harrison. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family at McAdam's Select Community Funeral Home, Fredericton, NB, on Thursday, 4 October 2007, from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. A Masonic service will be conducted at the funeral home on Thursday at 6:30 pm. The funeral service will be held from Wesley United Church of Canada, 2371 Lincoln Road, Lincoln, NB, on Friday, 5 October 2007, at 2:00 pm with Reverend H. G. MacKenzie officiating, assisted by clergy representatives from Woolastook Presbytery and the Maritime Conference of the United Church of Canada. Interment will take place in Fernhill Cemetery, Saint John, NB on Saturday, 6 October 2007 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, remembrances made to the charity of the donor's choice would be appreciated by the family. Personal condolences may be offered through McAdam's Select Community Funeral Home (506-458-9170) www.mcadamsfh.com.