Thelma Jeter Shank Hildebrand, the matriarch of our family, passed away on December 11, 2024. The daughter of John Leonard and Thelma Jeter Shank, she was born in Salem, Virginia, on May 25, 1927.
Known as Tootie from her earliest years, she and her brother, John Maurice Shank, enjoyed their childhood years on Lewis Avenue. She attended Academy and Broad Street Schools and graduated from Andrew Lewis High School in 1945. She entered Roanoke College in that year, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1949. A member of Sigma Kappa Phi sorority, she had many admirers during her high school and college years, smitten by her charms and who vied with one another for her attention. Her lifelong choice was John Roberts Hildebrand, who proposed to her in December 1948. They were married in Salem Presbyterian Church on June 18, 1949, one week after her graduation from Roanoke College. They made their first home in Blacksburg, where she taught school while Hildebrand finished his senior year at Virginia Tech. She always referred to him by his last name. Following his graduation in June 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, they returned to Salem to an apartment on Lewis Avenue. Their first child, Martha Karen was born on December 15, 1950. She was joined by a brother, John Roberts, Jr., on November 3, 1952, by a sister, Sarah Jeter, on June 2, 1958, and by a second sister, Caroline Shank, on February 27, 1969.
Thelma Jeter Shank Hildebrand was a loving, kind, and patient lady, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 103:8). A true matriarch, she was always ready to respond immediately to her family’s needs and requests, providing a listening ear, offering solutions, sound advice, or financial support as appropriate. A faithful Christian and fifth generation Presbyterian, she was an active member of Salem Presbyterian Church her entire life. Baptized April 8, 1928, confirmed March 26, 1939, she served as an Elder, a Women of the Church officer, and on many of the Session Committees responsible for planning and decorating the church facilities, including sanctuary flower arrangements for Sunday worship and the Christmas and Easter seasons. The hallmark of her faith was her insistence that her home be a Christian home. Each child was baptized and confirmed at Salem Presbyterian Church. She and her husband were faithful to the vows and commitments they made as part of their children’s baptisms, and the four children began their Christian journeys early in life, journeys which continue to this day, their homes reflecting the Christian values and characteristics which they have seen in their mother.
Tootie was a member of the Fort Lewis Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, recently receiving an award for 68 years of dedicated service. She was also a member of the Lake Spring Garden Club, the Roanoke College Society of 1842, and the Salem Junior Guild. She also served as a docent at the Salem Historical Museum.
Tootie is survived by her husband of 75 years, John Roberts Hildebrand; her brother, John M. Shank; her brother-in-law, David C. Hildebrand; her children, Martha Hildebrand Sherwood and husband, Robert, John Roberts Hildebrand, Jr. and partner, R. Neal Fine, Sarah Hildebrand Caldwell and husband, Gregory, and Caroline Hildebrand Cochrane and husband, James; grandchildren, Catherine Sherwood Hagan and husband, Christopher, Elizabeth Hildebrand Strasser and husband, Joseph, Margaret Hildebrand Sherwood, Mary Claire Hildebrand and fiancé, Devin Corron, Caroline Morgan Caldwell and fiancé, John Cooledge, Catherine Roberts Caldwell Short and husband, George, Sarah Lane Cochrane Payne and husband, William, James Hildebrand Cochrane, Julia Xian Shank Cochrane, and John Hao Wright Cochrane; and great-grandchildren, Sarah Catherine Hagan, Jacob Alexander Hagan, Tyler Marx Strasser, Madison Claire Strasser, and Grant Richmond Strasser.
A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 21, 2024, at Salem Presbyterian Church, 41 East Main Street, Salem, Virginia. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. She will be laid to rest privately at East Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Salem Presbyterian Church, PO Box 536, Salem, Virginia 24153. Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnmoakey.com.
