Carol Laverne (Seal) Hilty, 94, of Harrisonburg, Va., died June 7, 2026, at Warsack House of the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community. She was born Feb. 21, 1932, in Chicago, to the late Albert and Dora (Thomas) Seal.
She graduated from Schurz High School and the Swedish Covenant Hospital School of Nursing. She was a Registered Nurse at Goshen General Hospital in Indiana and at J.C. Lincoln Hospital in Phoenix. She was a longtime member of Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale, Ariz., and, most recently, of Crossroads Mennonite Church in Timberville, Va. She was also a member of the Gideons Auxiliary.
She enjoyed putting together puzzles, reading, knitting and sewing. She had an entire room dedicated to patterns and fabric, and family members grew up with home-sewn clothes from pajamas to prom dresses. She loved getting to know people and could always find a connection with them. She was a wonderful cook and loved hot chocolate. Her greatest enjoyment was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
On April 19, 1958, she married James E. Hilty, who survives. They met when James was completing 1-W service in a surgery unit in Elgin, Ill. They traveled all over the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, and to Europe and Burkina Faso in Africa.
In addition to her husband, Carol is survived by her children, Rebecca Hilty Marple (Dan Jr.), Eric Dyck Hilty (Heidi) and Kathy Hilty Stoll (Hugh); a daughter-in-law, Sheila; a brother, David Seal; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by son Alan Hilty and siblings Lenore Parrent, Eloise Brownfield, Ramona Stratton and Preston Seal.
