He began theology studies under the mentorship of the Rev. Stanley Johnson, chaplain at the University of Pennsylvania, while at GE and was ordained an Episcopal priest in 1976.
On Sundays, Father Hiltz assisted the rector at Christ Episcopal Church in Media and served as interim rector at several churches in Delaware County. He was a charismatic preacher, his brother-in-law, Arthur Beer, said.
On Saturdays, Father Hiltz and his wife, Margery Beer Hiltz, were volunteer guides at the Philadelphia Museum of Art from 1988 to 2002. Father Hiltz was the weekend guides' coordinator for the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit in 1992 and for the Barnes exhibit in 1995. He and his wife participated in the museum's rigorous training program for guides and studied art for three summers at Oxford University in England in the early 1990s.
Father Hiltz grew up in Sea View, Prince Edward Island, Canada. He and his wife met as students at Prince of Wales College, now the University of Prince Edward Island. The university awarded him an honorary degree in 2004.
During World War II, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a navigator and was stationed in England.
After his discharge, Father Hiltz earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Arcadia University in Nova Scotia and earned a doctorate in physical chemistry from McGill University in Montreal.
In 1953, he and his wife moved to the United States when he joined American Viscose Corp. in Marcus Hook. He was later a research chemist for Avisun Corp. and for Borden Chemical Co. before joining GE.
Father Hiltz gave lectures about his research projects to high school and college students and tutored high school chemistry students. In the 1950s, he was featured in a 90-minute public television program on polymeric material. He was a former member of the Rose Tree Media School Board and was past treasurer of the Middletown Free Library in Lima.
He and his wife were longtime summer residents of Prince Edward Island.
In addition to his wife of 63 years, Father Hiltz is survived by daughters Sharon and Deborah and two granddaughters.
A funeral and burial were Saturday at St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Sea View, Prince Edward Island.
A memorial service will be held later at Christ Episcopal Church in Media.
Contact staff writer Sally A. Downey at 215-854-2913 or sdowney@phillynews.com.
