Willodean “Bea” Gilliam Hilger

 Mrs. Willodean “Bea” Gilliam Hilger, 88, passed away Saturday, January 04, 2020 at the Vanceburg Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Vanceburg, Kentucky.

She was born at Emerson, Kentucky on October 30, 1931 to the late Chester Arthur and Mollie Akers Gilliam.

Proceeding her in death was her husband of 66 years, John Henry Hilger and one beloved grandson, Jonathan Cooper Hilger; eight sisters, Olive Evans, Opal Fannin, Audrey Turner, Edna Rayburn, Mary Roe, Nina Davis, Merle Stone and Norbeth Bachtel; three brothers, Charles Gilliam, Donald Gilliam and Wayne Gilliam.

She survived by her daughters, Belinda (Mike) Forman of Vanceburg, Kentucky, Terri (Larry) Hainline of Louisville, Kentucky; her sons, Kevin (Brenda) Hilger of Vanceburg, Kentucky, John David “JD” Hilger of Columbus, Ohio, Kenneth Hilger of Vanceburg, Kentucky, Kibbey Hilger of Olive Hill, Kentucky and Timothy Hilger of Lexington, Kentucky. She leaves three grandchildren; Amy Allgeier of Shelbyville, Kentucky, Alex C. Bertram (Heather) of Georgetown, Ohio, and Ryan Hilger (Sabrina) of Grayson, Kentucky, plus eight great grandchildren; Nate Allgeier, Riley, Emily and Collin Bertram, Christian, Alexa, Emma and Dallas Henry Hilger. Willodean will be mourned by several nieces and nephews.

In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, Willodean worked for seventeen years as a cook for the Lewis County School System. She was a lifelong member of the Scott's Branch Church of Christ at Camp Dix, Kentucky.

 Services for Willodean Hilger will be at 1:00 pm January 8, 2020 at the Gaydos Funeral Home in Vanceburg, Kentucky. Visitation will be from 9:00 am until time of services.

 Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons and nephews Alex Bertram, Ryan Hilger, Nate Allgeier, Mike Eulett, Garold Fannin, John Gilliam, and Jeff Gilliam. Serving as honorary will be Rick Switzer.

In Liu of flowers donations can be made to the Lewis County Educational Foundation at P.O. Box 39 Vanceburg, Ky 41179.