Sophia Soulos Hilts
August 9, 1927 ~ February 12, 2017
Sophia Soulos Hilts, age 89, of Vienna, Virginia passed away peacefully Sunday, February 12, 2017, at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia, with her husband and son holding her hands. While at home Sunday morning she had a stroke in her sleep and never awakened. Sophia was born August 9, 1927, in Sydney, Australia, one of five children born to Greek immigrant parents. She was a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Sydney, Australia. In 1957, Sophia, her twin sister Helen and brother James, sailed on a freighter from Sydney to the US, and on to Montreal, Canada by train. They worked in Montreal for two years before taking positions in 1959 at the Australian Embassy in Washington, DC.
Living in Washington, she met and married Donald Hilts, a member of the United States Air Force Band and Symphony Orchestra. In 1962 they were married at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC. After marriage, Sophia began work at the South African Embassy where she remained until she chose to stay at home and care for her two young children in their home in North Arlington, Virginia. After her family was grown, she became a real estate property manager in northern Virginia establishing many close and long lasting friendships. Sophia was very vivacious with a vibrant personality and radiant smile, and was beloved by all who knew her. She was a constant pillar of strength to her children and all the children of their Powhatan Street neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia. Sophia remained an Australian citizen throughout all her years in the US. Then in 2007 she became a naturalized American citizen, holding dual citizenship.
Sophia was preceded in death by her Greek-born parents, Vasilios and Kalliroi Soulos in Sydney, and two brothers in Sydney, Lambros and George. She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Donald Hilts of Vienna, Virginia; twin sister Helen Soulos and brother James Soulos of Sydney; daughter Alexandra Eleni Horeczko, her husband Alan D. Horeczko, their twins Lara Zoe and Nicholas George of Walnut Creek, California; son Robert Durland Hilts, his wife Julie, their four daughters, Molly Sophia, Katherine Rose, Lindsey Nicole and Josie Reagan of Broad Run, Virginia; sister-in-law Gaynor Soulos and three nephews William, Philip and Paul Soulos of Sydney and their respective families, and many more extended family members and friends throughout the US, Australia, Greece and England.
A Divine Liturgy will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday, April 26, at Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church, 3149 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, Virginia with Father Costas officiating. The graveside service and interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at 3:00 PM Wednesday, April 26. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to honor Sophia to the charities she often supported: St Jude's Children's Cancer Research or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
Living in Washington, she met and married Donald Hilts, a member of the United States Air Force Band and Symphony Orchestra. In 1962 they were married at Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC. After marriage, Sophia began work at the South African Embassy where she remained until she chose to stay at home and care for her two young children in their home in North Arlington, Virginia. After her family was grown, she became a real estate property manager in northern Virginia establishing many close and long lasting friendships. Sophia was very vivacious with a vibrant personality and radiant smile, and was beloved by all who knew her. She was a constant pillar of strength to her children and all the children of their Powhatan Street neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia. Sophia remained an Australian citizen throughout all her years in the US. Then in 2007 she became a naturalized American citizen, holding dual citizenship.
Sophia was preceded in death by her Greek-born parents, Vasilios and Kalliroi Soulos in Sydney, and two brothers in Sydney, Lambros and George. She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Donald Hilts of Vienna, Virginia; twin sister Helen Soulos and brother James Soulos of Sydney; daughter Alexandra Eleni Horeczko, her husband Alan D. Horeczko, their twins Lara Zoe and Nicholas George of Walnut Creek, California; son Robert Durland Hilts, his wife Julie, their four daughters, Molly Sophia, Katherine Rose, Lindsey Nicole and Josie Reagan of Broad Run, Virginia; sister-in-law Gaynor Soulos and three nephews William, Philip and Paul Soulos of Sydney and their respective families, and many more extended family members and friends throughout the US, Australia, Greece and England.
A Divine Liturgy will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday, April 26, at Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church, 3149 Glen Carlyn Road, Falls Church, Virginia with Father Costas officiating. The graveside service and interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at 3:00 PM Wednesday, April 26. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to honor Sophia to the charities she often supported: St Jude's Children's Cancer Research or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Funeral Home:
Money & King Funeral Home
171 W. Maple Ave.
Vienna, VA
US 22180
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Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. Please accept my deepest sympathy. The Bibles promise at Rev. 21: 4 proved to be a great comfort to me when my daughter died. “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. Isaiah 26:19 “Your dead will live……And the earth will let those powerless in death come to life.” My deepest condolences.
I would like to express my sincere condolences for the loss of Mrs.Hilt. The Bible is a great source of encouragement during times like this. May the “God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3) comfort you.