LEBANON, NH – Erwin P. "Phil" Hilts, 79, died July 31, 2018 at the Jack Byrne Palliative Care Center in Lebanon.  He was born in 1939 in New York City.  In 1996 he moved to Castleton where he resided for many wonderful years at FortySeven Main before moving to New Hampshire.  Phil loved life with a child-like joy that was a gift to all who knew him.  He competed a variety of Special Olympics events including swimming, baseball, basketball and bowling. He enjoyed traveling, playing cards and being helpful.  Each summer he attended Camp Thorpe in Goshen or Silver Towers in Ripton.  He attended the Orvis Fly Fishing School and became an excellent fisherman, catching one of the largest land-locked salmon ever caught in Lake Dunmore weighing in at nearly 10 pounds.  Survivors include his sisters, Lee (Hilts) Alexander of West Windsor, Harriet (Hilts) Sullivan of Woodstock, nieces and nephews.  A Celebration of his life will be held at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct. on Friday August 17 at 3 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Park Foundation, 1110 Vermont Ave NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005 or online at www.nationalparks.org/tribute .