Charles Floyd Hildebolt, II DDS PHD

CHARLES FLOYD HILDEBOLT, II DDS PHD, aka “Scooter,” aged 80, of Chesterfield, Missouri, died peacefully and surrounded by family on Sunday, March 24, 2024. His death came after an 8-year battle with Lymphoma, with his health suddenly and dramatically declining only in the last two weeks of his life.

Born on January 22, 1944 in Dayton, Ohio, he was a long-time resident of Preble County in Eaton Ohio. Charles grew up on the family farm in Eaton. Charles graduated from Eaton High School in 1962; while attending, he thrived at playing football all four years. After graduating high school, he attended Ohio State University, where he graduated with honors with a BS in Microbiology and went on to earn a DDS in Dentistry. In 1970, during the Vietnam War, he voluntarily entered the US Army Dental Corps and became the Head of the Oral Surgery Department at William Beaumont Hospital in El Paso, Texas. During his time of service, he received the National Defense Service Medal. He was later promoted to Major in 1989 and inducted into the American Legion. Throughout his time studying and serving in the Army, he pursued his adventurous outdoor passions: caving, white-water rafting, snow skiing, rock climbing, ice climbing, and mountaineering. He was an active member of the Canadian and American Alpine Clubs and Cave Research Foundation (CRF). In addition to making many first ascents, two of his most notable accomplishments during this time were mapping Mammoth Cave and successfully summiting Denali (Mt. McKinley) in 1978, the highest peak in North America with the Ohio State Mountaineers.

During a mountain-climbing expedition in British Columbia, Canada, on the shores of the idyllic Lake Louise, he met the love of his life, Louise Delorme. After a long-distance romance documented in love letters, they married in a small ceremony in Quebec, Canada. After completing his service in the Army, he & Louise moved to Beavercreek, Ohio, where he opened a successful private dental practice. Shortly thereafter, they welcomed a daughter, Nea, in 1979, and a son, Sean, in 1980. In Charles' spare time, he spent time with his family and helped out on the family farm in Eaton, Ohio. During this time, he wrote two as-yet unpublished exploration and science-fiction novels.

Several years into practicing dentistry, Charles was feeling increasingly unfulfilled. In 1983, he made the decision to move to St. Louis, Missouri with his wife and two young children. The move enabled him to change careers and pursue his passion for anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis. He completed his Masters in Anthropology in 1985, and only a year later, he completed his PhD in Physical Anthropology. After earning his doctorate from Wash U, he was hired in 1987 as Professor of Radiology by the Washington University Medical School, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology. His primary research focus was on the effects of Vitamin D on Periodontal Disease. He made substantial and notable contributions to the research of the Homo floresiensis skeleton (nicknamed the “Hobbit”) which was discovered in Flores Indonesia, and to the DNA analysis of the rediscovered child mummy found in storage at the St Louis Science Center. Additionally, he served as Adjunct Professor of Anthropology, which took him all over the world, including Ethiopia. He was honored as a Tenured Full Professor and remained at Wash U until 2016, when he retired, and was then honored as Professor Emeritus.

As an avid, life-long learner, Charles was constantly in pursuit of new adventures and knowledge. Even in retirement, he continued to further his studies by becoming an expert in the field of statistical analysis, and he became an adjunct Clinical Associate Professor Saint Louis University Center of Advanced Dental Education and a statistical consultant for Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. Throughout his career he helped review grants for NIH, Whitaker Foundation, and many others, and co-authored over 176 peer-reviewed publications with focuses in research and statistical analysis on varied topics including the periodontal disease, Alzheimer’s, diagnostic radiology, and the application of imaging techniques to the study of fossil hominins. Charles diligently supported and collaborated on student projects and did statistical analysis and research up until a week before his passing, when he was too sick to work.

Scoot’s passion for exploration, furthering knowledge, and sharing it was present in everything he did both in his personal life and in his professional career. With each passing decade, Scoot explored new challenges for his body and actively pursued hobbies including sailing, scuba-diving, fishing, and cross-country skiing. Towards the end of his life, he followed a regimented exercise routine every morning, took a 30-mile bike ride every week, went on two mile “fun runs” three times a week, played outdoor soccer every Sunday morning and played indoor games Sunday evening. He continued his bike rides, fun runs, and Sunday soccer as well as his research and statistical analysis consulting up until two weeks prior to his passing.

Scoot’s adoration and dedication to his family and friends was also a huge part of his life. He enjoyed taking family trips back to the old homestead in Ohio, Holden Beach in North Carolina. He also traveled to the ocean in Mexico and to Bali, Indonesia. Every year he spent time with the “Decent Boys,” his friends from soccer, at deer camp, and on fishing trips in Arkansas and Canada. He was extremely involved in the lives of his two grandsons, Ikhana and Kaiana, and made attending their soccer and football games, orchestra concerts, and school functions a top priority. He enjoyed his routine of work and exercise during the week and one of his greatest pleasures was Friday night dinners with his family.

Preceded in death by his Father: Charles F. Hildebolt in 1962 and Mother: Muriel (Sinnot) Hildebolt in 1996. Nephews: Bill M. Hildebolt and Richard “Dick” Hildebolt.

Survivors: Beloved wife: Louise M. (Delorme) Hildebolt; Children & their partners: Sean Hildebolt & Jen O’Neil of Chesterfield, Missouri; Nea Hildebolt & Eric Betz of Chesterfield, Missouri; Grandchildren: Ikhana Hildebolt & Kaiana Hildebolt both of Chesterfield, Missouri; Nieces & Nephews: Sandi Hildebolt of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Jim Hildebolt & Matt Barnes of Youngstown, Ohio, Mary Ann & Chris Brackins of Oxford, North Carolina; Great Nieces & Nephews: Johnny & Aleah Hildebolt and children Lux, Dez, & Sky ; Steven & Jodi Hildebolt and children Piper, Saylor, Holden, & Laken; Brian Hildebolt of Myrtle Beach, North Carolina, Christina Brackins of North Carolina; Hazen Brackins of North Carolina; Joe Hildebolt of Winston-Salem, Bill Hildebolt of Weston, Massachusetts and his children, Hannah Hildebolt and Hazen Hildebolt of Manhattan, New York;  & Jessica Thorpe of Weston, Massachusetts and her children Tyler, Cassidy, & Joe.

Graveside service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 27, 2024 in Mound Hill Cemetery (New Part) in Eaton. Local Arrangements Entrusted to Barnes Funeral Home, Eaton, Ohio.

Condolences may be sent to the family via the website at www.barnesfuneralhome.com