John Parriott Chilton's Obituary
John Parriott Chilton – “A life well lived”
1934 – 2021
John Parriott Chilton, 87, passed away on November 26, 2021, peacefully surrounded by his family. He is survived by his devoted wife, Shirley Rarick Chilton, his three children: John Levi “Johnny” Chilton (Alexandra), Leanne Chilton, and Kay Chilton (Charles Murray), plus three grandchildren; John Philip Chilton, Levi Walden Chilton, and Lauren Elizabeth Chilton.
John was born on March 16, 1934, in the border town of Laredo, Texas to John Beeman Chilton and Gertrude “Dudie” Smith. A native Texan, John had his roots deeply instilled in him.
John was the only grandson of Levi Smith, a wildcatter involved in drilling the famous “Santa Rita #1” oil well that ushered in the Permian Basin oil field. Levi Smith also founded Texon, a small town in Reagan County in western central Texas. Levi Smith was inducted to the Petroleum Museum Hall of Fame. John was also the only grandson to John Bell Chilton, who founded Comanche National Bank in 1889 in Comanche, Texas. John Bell Chilton began the bank by donating the seed money and was the first President of the bank.
John grew up on the vast San Roman Ranch in Webb County, near Laredo, with Mexican cowboys, ranch-hands, and their families. As a result, he spoke Spanish before he spoke English. John embraced the rugged life, but that idyllic life turned to grief when he lost his father when he was only six years old. His mother moved John to San Antonio, where he finished high school at the Texas Military Institute. Later, John attended Rice University where he majored in engineering and joined the US Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
After graduating from college, John went to Los Angeles to work for Rocketdyne, a rocket engine design company, where he met Shirley, the love of his life, on a blind date. John and Shirley were in love, but unfortunately, he was scheduled to report soon to Munich, Germany as a young Army First Lieutenant. Soon, Shirley flew to Germany, where they were married. They lived in Munich, where in 1960, their son Johnny was born. After his army career ended, John and Shirley moved to Dallas where Leanne was born in 1963 and Kay in 1965. John began his engineering career at Texas Instruments but after a few years he found his true calling as a stockbroker at Weber Hall.
Throughout his life, John was a patient and loving father and grandfather. He devoted his life to his family and celebrated their accomplishments. His passion was traveling the world, hunting, and promoting wildlife conservation. John was an avid member of Dallas Safari Club where he won the Outstanding Hunting Achievement Award. John passed on his passion for hunting to all three of his grandchildren. He took them hunting rabbits on the San Roman Ranch in South Texas at a young age. Later this expanded to treks in Canada, South Africa, and South America plus countless whitetail hunts at the family ranch. John and Shirley also loved Vail, Colorado and enjoyed entertaining friends and family at their condominium at The Lodge Tower. They summered in Vail to escape the hot Texas summers. He also was an avid downhill skier and taught his grandchildren to ski. John was still skiing the slopes of Vail on his 84th birthday and his grandchildren could hardly keep up with him.
John and Shirley also enjoyed entertaining their Dallas Supper Club friends at the San Roman Ranch. When the ranch became too much to manage from Dallas, they sold it and purchased the 3 Oaks Ranch near Jacksboro, Texas with their son, Johnny. Ranch life was in John’s soul, and he was very happy enjoying the wide, open spaces with the ones he loved.
In his retirement, John became a Master chess player and was always an avid runner who participated in multiple marathons, including the Boston Marathon. He loved spending time with friends while working out at Cooper Aerobics Center, slalom water skiing in the summers, scuba diving, playing handball, running (usually around White Rock Lake with his running group) and spending time at the new ranch with family and friends. John loved fast cars and land – it was both a passion and a hobby.
But most of all, John loved his dear sweet Shirley, who brought him joy until his last day on earth. They had a 63 year-long love affair. Their partnership was a true inspiration. Often, they could be seen holding hands in restaurants, dancing together when music was playing or leaving movie theaters with extra-large popcorn and Dr. Pepper refills.
His grandchildren affectionally called him “John”. He did not want to be called Grandpa or Grandfather because that made him feel old. John will always be remembered with fondness, love, admiration, and a happy demeanor. He will be missed every day, but his legacy, passion and joyful spirit will live on through his grandchildren. It was a life well lived. He showed us all how to live each day to its fullest and how to love.
The life of John Chilton will be celebrated on Saturday, December 11, 2021, at 10:00am in the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery. Visitation will be held at 9:00am. The Chilton Family will host a reception at the Terrace Grill at Royal Oaks Country Club at noon. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation of Greater Dallas or the Dallas Safari Club.
Those who are unable to attend the service in person may access the service via the following Live Streaming link:
http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/64812/hash:019369AC3A4F7091
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