Prudence (Prudy) Dix Hilger – September 4, 2019

Prudence (Prudy) Dix Hilger, beloved wife of James Robert Hilger, of Centennial, was born May 17, 1935 in Ravenna, OH to Albert Voorhees Dix and Ruth Melissa Hinshaw.  She passed away on September 4, from injuries after a fall.  At an early age, her family moved to Colerain, OH.  She graduated from Mount du Chantal Academy in Wheeling, WV and DePauw University, and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. 

Prudy began running in her late 40’s, and soon became both noted and loved for her winning and her gracious manner and kindness to all.  She never wore a stopwatch, and her flowing silver hair made her known to most runners.  Many younger men would approach her after a race and told her that they had run their personal best time in their attempt to keep up with her.  She was the only runner for three straight years who placed in the top seven or higher places in their age groups in the Boston Marathon.  Before her second Boston Marathon in April 1987, she married her husband Jim.  Running from age 47 through 60, she had 75 first places, 34 second places, and 8 third places.  She was elected to the Sportswomen of Colorado Hall of Fame, and will be inducted on September 28 to the DePauw University Athletics Hall of Fame.

After college she worked for IBM in Indianapolis, worked in newspapers, and taught school in rural West Virginia, where from her meager salary she bought school supplies and small musical instruments for her pupils.  She was married to Edward C. Stumpp Jr, who died in 1982, after living in West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Boulder.  In her sixties on, she taught water aerobics, attended yoga, and continued playing bridge.

Prudy was an officer and director of her homeowners association and her Columbine DAR chapter, board member of a ballet company and college women’s housing, and was active with the Central City Opera Antique Show.

Besides her husband, she is survived by her son, Edward A. Stumpp, Santa Ana, CA; daughter, Mary E. Stumpp, Indianapolis, IN; and grandchildren: Ryan Stumpp, Nicole Stumpp.  She was predeceased in death by her first husband, Edward Stumpp; her brother, Albert Dix; and her stepson, Michael B. Hilger.  She is also survived by stepdaughter, Dr. Elizabeth Hilger Gallo, Pasadena, CA; and step grandchildren: Andrew Hilger, Stephen Hilger, and Jamie Gallo.

A Memorial Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 13, 2019 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 8035 S. Quebec St., Englewood, CO 80112.  Private inurnment will take place at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.

Memorial donations may be made to DePauw University, Central City Opera, or St. Thomas More Parish.