Obituary: James Murray Hildreth

James Murray Hildreth, 71, of Murrells Inlet, S.C., and Longboat Key, died Oct. 17.

Mr. Hildreth was born Oct. 3, 1943, in Oakland, Calif., to James and Kathyrn Hildreth. He graduated from Coronado High School, in Coronado, Calif.

He proudly served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps before enrolling and graduating from West Virginia University with a degree in journalism.

It was during this time that Mr. Hildreth met and married his soul mate and love of his life, Martha. They had three daughters, whom they raised in a humor-filled, faith-based, loving home.

Over a span of 22 years, Mr. Hildreth wrote and reported for numerous newspapers in the Washington, D.C., area and United Press International, and was chief White House correspondent for U.S. News & World Report during President Ronald Reagan’s second term in office. He then spent 15 years at Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha, Neb., retiring as the senior vice president of communications.

Mr. Hildreth retired to Murrells Inlet, S.C., to be closer to his daughters and their families.

In retirement, he served on the board of directors of the Wachesaw Plantation Club, loved playing golf, traveled the world with wide-eyed enthusiasm and reveled in his daughters’ and grandchildren’s accomplishments.

Mr. Hildreth graced all those he met with his unbridled zest for life, an irresistibly attractive sense of humor and an uncanny ability to strike up a conversation with anyone, leaving them to feel a little better about themselves.

Mr. Hildreth is survived by his wife of 47 years, Martha; daughters, Kelly Malloy, of Prosperity, S.C., Kathy Wholley, of Charlotte, N.C., and Amy Wolff, of Omaha; six grandchildren; brother, Kevin; and 11 nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Monday, at Belin United Methodist Church, in Murrells Inlet.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the music ministry at Belin United Methodist Church, belinumc.org.