Hylton, Dorothea White
Dorothea Henry (White) Hylton left this mortal coil in the early hours of September 17, 2025, at her home on Seminole Drive in Blacksburg, Virginia. She was 92. A Christian all of her life, she now rests in the arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Dottie, as she was affectionately known, was born April 4, 1933, in Chatham, Virginia, the sixth child of George Townes Rison White and Myrtle Coleman (Reynolds) White. Preceding her in death were her dear husband, William “Bill” Thomas Hylton, her brothers, Joseph Terrell White, William Carlton White, George Rison White, and Charles Richard White, and her sister, Myrtle Reynolds (White) Rucker.
In 1950, Dottie graduated from Chatham High School in a class of 16 and entered Montreat College in North Carolina, where she won a scholarship for academic achievement. In 1951, she entered Radford College (now Radford University), at that time the women’s campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now Virginia Tech). There she met Bill Hylton of Pulaski County, Virginia, a student at VPI. Their marriage took place on December 21, 1952, in Chatham. They were married 63 years.
Following her husband’s graduation from Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering in 1956, his career took the family to Fairmont, West Virginia, Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, Athens, Ohio, Morganton, West Virginia, and Price, Utah. They returned to Blacksburg after his retirement.
Dottie was devoted to rearing their four sons. She was the epitome of love and grace as she taught, coached, corrected, and, amazingly at times, put up with her boys’ endless shenanigans.
She also found time to work in retail and administrative positions, and everywhere they lived, she became a tireless volunteer at the local church and hospital. In Blacksburg, she was active in several women’s organizations.
Dottie will be remembered for her love, caring, and, especially, her steadiness through times of turmoil. She spoiled many a grandchild and great-grandchild and had a keen sense of what each needed. She was a thoughtful friend and a kind daughter, sister, and favorite aunt. Her many friends enjoyed her quick mind, musical laughter, and soft Southern accent, which echoed her Virginia roots.
Dottie is survived by her sons, William Thomas Hylton II of Blacksburg, Richard Alvin Hylton of Rivesville, West Virginia, David Stuart Hylton (Stacy) of Huntsville, Alabama, and Robert Alan Hylton (Cindy Lea) of Summerville, South Carolina.
She is already deeply missed by eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren: Will Hylton of Burlington, Vermont; James Hylton of Holland, Michigan; Katherine (Hylton) Rorie of Mechanicsville, Virginia; Kirsten Tjarks of Fort Myers, Florida; Amy Hylton of Spring Grove, Pennsylvania; Jennifer Radovich of Arvada, Colorado; and Alex and Elizabeth Hylton of Columbia, South Carolina. Her great-grandchildren are Dylan Cooke, Lillian and Juliette Radovich, and Simon David Rorie.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 27, at McCoy Funeral Home in Blacksburg.
Gifts in her memory may be made to: WorldCOMP Kenya Relief International, https://www.worldcompkenya.com/
