After graduating from Sequoia High School in Redwood City, Calif., George’s education at the University of California, Berkeley, was interrupted by World War II. George served in the U.S. Army Air Forces as a pilot. Shot down over Germany, he spent a year in prisoner-of-war camps before being liberated in April 1945.

Returning to UC Berkeley after the war, George married Joan Elaine Ponsford. Thus began a wonderful marriage that would last 65 years. Receiving his bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley and his master’s degree from Stanford, George and Joan moved to Napa in 1947, where he became the director of the Napa Senior High School Choir. George was revered by his students as “Uncle Hildy,” and he touched their lives with his ability to impart a passion for music and to motivate his choirs to express this passion as if they were one voice.

Joan and George raised four children in Napa. Never one to be still, George built the house of his dreams — an “adobe adobe.” Crafting and laying each brick by hand, George was also part of a “neighborhood crew” that would drop everything and run with tools in hand to assist each other when needed. He etched the names of these wonderful neighbors in the final bricks.

The family took many camping and “trailering” trips. His children have fond memories of car trips with a steady stream of puns coming from their father and campfires when he led them in singing rounds.

After retiring, George and Joan set off on many world trips and spent time with their children and 12 grandchildren. George also spent many years refurbishing reed organs, many of which are housed in Napa and in locations around the Bay Area.

Because they never forgot “Uncle Hildy,” his former choir members organized several reunions, including one on his 90th birthday, during which he conducted them with masterful authority.

George leaves behind a large and loving family: his children, Lynne (David), Gordon, Shelby (Frank) and Wendy (Ralph); 12 grandchildren, Charles, Miriam, Rebecca, Elyanah, Austin, Drew, Nadya, Stacey, Robin, Drew, Scott and Charlie; and two great-grandchildren, Jacob Dylan and Dora Joan. In addition, he is survived by his sister, Janis Hildebrant Criswell.

The family would like to thank Marge Nelson Ernest for her support, as well as Cindy Lona and the other caregivers who helped George.

We are saddened by the loss of our father. But we are comforted by the continuing memories we have of such a warm, loving and accomplished man.

A memorial service will be held at Napa First Presbyterian Church, 1333 Third St., on Saturday, Oct. 26, at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in George’s name may be made to the George Hildebrant Memorial Scholarship Fund for Choral Students, c/o Jeanette Mulgrew, Napa High School, 2475 Jefferson St., Napa, CA 94558; or to The Table, c/o First Presbyterian Church, 1333 Third St., Napa, CA 94559.