Sign America’s Homer Hilty (1937-2015)

Homer E. Hilty, 78, of Wintersville, OH, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Tuesday, December 15, 2015. He was born July 18, 1937 in Canton, OH, a son of the late Homer E. and Mary Eva Cooper Hilty. A graduate of Canton McKinley High School, Homer attended Manchester College in Indiana. He came to Steubenville, OH in 1959 while working for a Canton, OH parking firm. In 1970, Homer purchased the Empire Sign Co. and, in 1972, he purchased the Gilbert Sign Co. He sold that company in 1982 and moved, along with his family, to Lakeland, FL. He worked for several sign companies for one year and returned back home to Wintersville, OH. Homer then started a new wholesale sign company, Sign America, which he operated from 1985 to the present. Homer and his wife, Judy, were charter members of Colonial Baptist Church where he served as a trustee. Surviving are his dear wife, Judy Hilty; two sons, Robert (Sandra) Hilty and Scott (Robin) Hilty, both of Richmond, OH; two daughters, Jackie (John) Ruggles of Odessa, FL, and Kim (Kress) Cronin of Steubenville; eight grandchildren, Kelly Cronin, Korie Cronin, Katy Cronin, Emily (Jeremy) Hilty Matics, Jessica Hilty, Sara Hilty, Michael Ruggles and Noah Ruggles; great granddaughter Kallie McKeegan; two brothers, Roger (Linda) Hilty of Steubenville and George (Susan) Hilty of Wadsworth, OH; sister Ruth (Joe) Fausnight of Indiana and several nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be directed to Colonial Baptist Church, Wintersville, OH; Independent Baptist Mission for Asians, Marietta, OH; or Center of Hope (Friendship Room Warming Center), Steubenville, OH.
Three of Homer’s children: Bob and Scott Hilty and Kim Cronin, along with his wife, Judy, and son-in-law John Ruggles, will continue to operate the Sign America business.
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