Frances Kelly Hilton

Hilton, Frances Kelly
Widow of Conrad N. Hilton, died May 30, 2006 in Santa Monica, CA at age 91. She was the daughter of Scottish born parents, who emigrated to America in the early 1900's. At the time of his death in 1936, her father, William, was comptroller of the International Harvester Co. Frances was raised in Highland Park, IL and attended The Marywood School for Girls where she was valedictorian of her class. She then enrolled in the school of speech at Northwestern University and from there went to London where she attended The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. When World War II began, she and her sister volunteered for service in the American Red Cross and were sent to the South Pacific. Upon her return from the war, Frances moved to the Los Angeles area where she became manager of convention sales for United Air Lines. In 1977 Frances married longtime family friend, Conrad N. Hilton, founder of the Hilton Hotel Corp. and continued to live in California after his death. Frances is survived by her brother, William P. Kelly of Glencoe, IL and 14 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by sisters Patricia K. Fawcett and Christina K. Jeffs and brother Ernest Thomas Kelly. A Memorial Mass will be said Saturday, June 3, 2 p.m., at St. Paul the Apostle Church, Westwood. The burial will be in her family's plot at Lake Forest, IL. Gates, Kingsley & Gates Moeller Murphy Directors (310) 395-9988