Charles Edward Hilgenberg

Charles Edward Hilgenberg of Easton, MD died on Friday, June 28, 2002 at William Hill Manor, Easton. He was 92. Born January 23, 1910 in MD, he was the son of the late Carl George and Angelica Rogge Hilgenberg. Following graduation from the Gilman School in 1928, he attended the University of Virginia where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1932. From 1932-1934 he traveled and studied in Europe, attending the University of Grenoble and the Sorbonne. In 1942 he enlisted as an officer in the Army Air Force and in the fall of that year was sent to San Antonio, Texas where he attended the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center serving as an adjutant in the 886th Squadron. In August of 1944 he was stationed at HQ of the 304th Bomb Wing in Italy with the rank of LT and in April of 1945 was with the new U.S. Air Force serving with the rank of Captain at HQ of the 455th Bomb Group. Following the war he shipped back to New York where it was found he had a mild form of Polio and he was confined to a hospital. Once out of the hospital he moved to Baltimore, MD to recuperate at the home of his brother, Carl, before heading out west. In 1947 he bought an isolated ranch that had no electricity, in the hill country north of San Antonio with an Air Force buddy, H. E. “Tex” Little, from Hobbs, New Mexico. He named the ranch “The Vamarie Ranch”. “The Vamarie” was the name of a yawl owned by the U.S. Naval Academy that his late brother-in-law, Rear Admiral Josef Gardiner, had sailed in. In 1952 he moved to “Araby”, a historic antebellum farm near Frederick, MD, where he restored the mansion and raised black-angus cattle. Around 1960 he retired to Talbot County, MD with his wife, the former Anne Crawford Johnson. There he built his home of many years, “Windsong” in Royal Oak. After Anne’s death, he married Florence Gilbert Tucker, who died in 1998. With both of these spouses he traveled extensively in Europe and other continents. Mr. Hilgenberg is survived by five nieces and nephews, John C. Hilgenberg of Baltimore, MD, Elizabeth H. Heminway of Baggio, Italy, Carl G. Hilgenberg of Littleton, New Hampshire, Elinor Stewart Gardiner of Plantation, Florida and Peter Lion Gardiner of Laramie, Wyoming; three step-children, F. Lewis Carlisle of Easton, MD, Denise Alexander Lecompte of Greenwich, CT and Ilse S. Rollow of Washington, D.C. He was predeceased by, a brother, Carl R. Hilgenberg and a sister Angela H. Gardiner, both of Baltimore, MD. Graveside services will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2002 at 11:30 AM at Druid Ridge Cemetery in Baltimore, MD. Arrangements are by Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., Easton, MD.