At the age of seven Gary received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior in a fundamental Baptist church in Wellington, Ohio. Bernice was in the sixth grade when she was invited to a Christmas program at a Bible Protestant church. It was there that she heard the gospel for the first time and received Jesus as her Savior.
Gary and Bernice attended Shelton College New Jersey in preparation for serving the Lord as teachers. It was there that the Lord called them into full time service in Venezuela. After graduation and marriage, Gary attended the Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary and Bernie taught school in Michigan.
The Hillikers served in Venezuela as church planters for fifteen years. In 1986 Gary became the General Director and Bernice the Office Manager of Baptist Mid-Mission’s Spanish literature ministry EBI in Florida. After fifteen years as General Director, Gary became the Director of International Development. Bernie has a BA in Elementary Education. Gary has a BA in Secondary Education; a MDiv in Pastoral Studies and in 2009 was granted a Doctor of Divinity degree from the Colegio Universitario Bautista de Puerto Rico.
Obituary
Gary Leslie Hilliker, 70, formerly of Wellington, died Thursday, May 24, 2012 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Born in Oberlin on July 20, 1941 to Howard and Frieda (nee Tudor) Hilliker. Gary graduated from the Wellington School System in 1959. He earned his Bachelor's Degree from Shelton College and his Master of Divinity from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary. Gary also received an Honorary Doctorate from El Colegio Universitario Bautista in Puerto Rico.
Gary was a member of the First Baptist Church of Wellington, Ohio until he moved to Grand Rapids and became a member of the Northland Baptist Church. In 1966 Gary and his wife were accepted as missionaries to Venezuela with Baptist Mid Missions where they served for 15 years. He was then invited to serve as the General Director of Editorial Bautista Independiente, Baptist Mid-Mission's Spanish publishing house in Florida for 15 years and then became the Director of International Development for 11 years.
He enjoyed playing his trumpet with the Highlands County Concert Band. As a hobby he performed as a clown known as Bubbles and participated in various parades and parties. He also entertained many groups with his magic skills.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Bernice (nee Angelico); sons, Brian (Janet), of Grand Rapids, MI and Wayne (Erin) of Tuolumne, CA; grandchildren, Brian, Garrett, Austin and Amanda; siblings, Linda (Ted) Hyde and Don (Glenda) Hilliker, and several nieces and nephews. Gary is also survived by his mother, Frieda Hilliker. He was preceded in death by his father, Howard, his paternal grandparents, John and Velma Hilliker and his maternal grandparents, William and Lella Tudor.
Friends and family will be received on Sunday, May 27 from 4-6 p.m. at Norton-Eastman Funeral Home, 370 South Main St, Wellington. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, May 29 at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church of Wellington, 125 Grand Ave, with Rev. Thomas Alexander officiating. A private burial will be held at Greenwood Cemetery, Wellington. In lieu of flowers memorial gifts will be received by First Baptist Church of Wellington and distributed to ministries to which Gary had been a part.
OBITUARY
DR. GARY HILLIKER, 70, formerly of Wellington, went home to be with his Lord on Thursday, May 24, 2012 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A memorial service was held at First Baptist Church in Wellington, Ohio, on Tuesday, May 29. The service was officiated by Pastor Tom Alexander. Gary earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Shelton College and his Master of Divinity from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary. Gary also received an Honorary Doctorate from El Colegio Universitario Bautista in Puerto Rico.
Gary was a member of the First Baptist Church of Wellington, Ohio until he moved to Grand Rapids and became a member of the Northland Baptist Chruch. In 1966 Gary and his wife were accepted as missionaries to Venezuela with Baptist Mid Missions where they served for15 years. He was then invited to serve as the General Director of Editorial Bautista Independiente, Baptist Mid-Mission’s Spanish publishing house in Florida for 15 years and then became the Director of International Development for 11 years.
He enjoyed playing his trumpet with the Highlands County Concert Band. As a hobby he performed as a clown known as Bubbles and participated in various parades and parties. He also entertained many groups with his magic skills.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Bernice (nee Angelico); sons, Brian (Janet), of Grand Rapids, MI and Wayne (Erin) of Tuolumne, CA; grandchildren, Brian, Garrett, Austin and Amanda; siblings, Linda (Ted) Hyde and Don (Glenda) Hilliker,and several nieces and nephews. Gary is also survived by his mother, Frieda Hilliker. He was preceded in death by his father, Howard, his paternal grandparents, John and Velma Hilliker and his maternal grandparents, William and Lella Tudor.
Memorial gifts will be received by First Baptist Church of Wellington and distributed to ministries to which Gary had been a part.
Timeline
1941 Jul 07:
Birth of Gary Leslie Hilliker in Oberlin, Lorain, Ohio. He was the son of Howard Hilliker and Frieda Tudor.
1944 Jan 04:
Birth of sister, Linda Hilliker at the Oberlin Memorial Hospital, Oberlin, Lorain, Ohio.
1946 Dec 17:
Birth of brother, Donald Hilliker at the Allen Memorial Hospital in Oberlin, Lorain, Ohio.
1959:
Gary graduated from Wellington High School, Wellington, Lorain, Ohio.
1966:
Gary and his wife, Bernie became missionaries to Venezuela under Baptist Mid-Missions. They served for 15 years.
Gary had grown up in the church, and his parents and siblings were still members but the family was commissioned to missionary service by the church they were currently attending in Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan.
1986:
Gary became the General Director and his wife, Bernice, the Office Manager of Baptist Mid-Mission’s Spanish literature ministry Editorial Bautista Independiente, Baptist Mid-Mission's Spanish publishing house in Florida.
1996 Jan 01:
Gary resided at 223 Prospect Street in Wellington, Lorain, Ohio. Relatives include: Brian L. Hilliker, Jason Donald Hilliker, and Velma C. Hilliker.
2012 May 24:
Death of Gary Leslie Hilliker in Michigan. He was 70 years old.
2012 May 29:
Burial of Gary Leslie Hilliker at the Greenwood Cemetery in Wellington, Lorain, Ohio.
Sources
"Certified copy of live birth from Ohio Department of Health", in possession of Tudor-603 I Julia Tudor.
"United States Public Records, 1970-2009," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJJX-XBXP : 16 May 2014), Gary L Hilliker, Residence, Wellington, Ohio, United States; a third party aggregator of publicly available information.
Burial: Greenwood Cemetery, Wellington, Lorain County, Ohio, USA; Created by: Linda; Record added: Jun 01, 2012; Find A Grave Memorial# 91119735 [(https;//www.findagrave.com)].
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