Donna E Hilton

Donna Edeanne Hilton, age 62, of Crestview, Florida passed away June 16, 2026 at the Fort Walton Beach-Destin Medical Center. She was born in Crestview, Florida on March 22, 1964 to Don and Leona Hilton of Baker, FL. She lived there until her early 40’s, moved to assisted living, and finally resided at the Shoal Creek Rehabilitation Center from 2009 until her passing.

Despite being born with cerebral palsy, Donna lived a full and happy life and was always involved in school, church, and social activities. She attended Silver Sands School in Fort Walton Beach where she proudly received her diploma. She also attended Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Baker for many years, and loved her teachers and everyone there. She went there faithfully until moving to an assisted living home.

Donna was a client at Horizons (formally ARC) for many years working on assembling items for government contracts, and never missed any of the parties and other social activities put on by that fine organization. Staff and clients alike loved Donna and she made many friends during those years. She enjoyed bowling with them and was very proud of the many trophies she won participating in Special Olympics.

She was also an avid photographer, and was rarely seen anywhere without her camera. The untold number of pictures she took in her life now preserve the story of her life and Hilton family history. Listening to music was also a big part of her world, and she loved to sit in her rocking chair and sing along as a little girl. But perhaps what made her the happiest were the times when she went flying. Nothing gave her more joy than to take a ride in a small plane and fly around the clouds, as she described it. One of her favorite things to tell people is “I’m going flying again.”

Donna was always happy living at Shoal Creek, at least partially due to all the compassionate staff who went out of their way to bring joy to her life. It was a common occurrence to see gifts, food, or whatever she asked for somehow showing up in her room. Her daily routine of pushing her wheelchair throughout the facility with Kermit the Frog and the Grinch will surely be missed.

Donna is now reunited with her parents in heaven and leaves behind, for now, her brother, Keith Hilton, and his fiancée, Sandi Senory; one niece, Kay Hilton; one nephew, Kevin Hilton, his wife, Ashleigh, and their son, Andrew; along with cousins, aunts, an uncle, and many friends, all of whom loved her dearly. Perhaps God placed her in this world to be a blessing to all who knew her.

The family is especially grateful to the medical staff at the Fort Walton Beach Hospital ICU unit for their compassionate care during this time.

Funeral services will be held Friday, June 26th at 11:00 at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Baker, with family visitation at 9:30, and general visitation from 10:00 until service time. Officiating pastors are Harold Morris and Archie Hardy, respectively. Arrangements are entrusted to Whitehurst-Powell Funeral Home.

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