Harold B. “Chilt” Chilton, age 103, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, peacefully passed away on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
Born November 12, 1922, in Plainfield, New Jersey, to Joseph Tucker Chilton and Gladys Muriel (Marsh) Chilton, Harold was known to most simply as “Chilt.” After graduating high school in 1940, he played with several instrumental groups and dance bands, performing in clubs along the East Coast. When World War II began, he served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps and was deployed to the South Pacific.
Following the war, Harold attended Bible college in New York, where he met his future wife, Loisruth (Richter) Chilton. After graduation, Harold and Loisruth served as missionaries to the Philippine Islands during the 1950s. Based in Manila, they traveled to hundreds of villages, performed music concerts, taught in village schools, and ultimately helped found Faith Academy, now one of the largest Christian schools in the Philippines.
Upon returning to the United States, Harold pastored several churches during the 1960s and 1970s and was active in evangelistic crusades, continuing to write and arrange music for orchestras and recording artists. He and Loisruth also founded a K–12 Christian school. Over the years, Harold pastored churches in Los Angeles and Orange Counties in California, as well as Las Vegas, Nevada, while teaching and mentoring countless Bible students in counseling and Ancient Greek studies.
After retirement, the Chiltons moved to Fayetteville and became members of University Baptist Church. Harold served as Orchestra Director, arranging and leading music for both large and small ensembles. He also performed weekly in retirement communities throughout Northwest Arkansas and continued writing and playing piano for several big bands and orchestras. During these years, he preached as a guest speaker in many area churches, taught New Testament Greek, and remained a valued musician in the community.
Harold was preceded in death by his wife, Loisruth Chilton, and his son, Rev. David Harold Chilton. He is survived by his daughter, Jayn Parenti, and her husband, Paul, of Bella Vista, Arkansas; and his daughter in law, Darlene (Fuller) Chilton of Rescue, California.
He leaves behind five grandchildren: Samuel Paul Porter (and wife, Kim), Shana Heather (Porter) Wyban (and husband, Thadd), Nathan David Chilton (and wife, Charity), Jacob Israel Chilton (and wife, Maria), and Abigail Aviva (Chilton) Cordova (and husband, Tony); two step grandchildren, David Parenti and Ashley Dane (Parenti) Warren; eighteen great grandchildren; and five great great grandchildren. Harold also has 15 nieces and nephews who live on the east coast of the country, and over 60 grand-nieces and nephews.
Known to all as a loving husband, father, grandfather, friend, teacher, mentor, and musician, Harold lived a life devoted to serving his Lord, his family, his friends, and his community.
“Well done, good and faithful servant…Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
— Matthew 25:21
Funeral services will be held in the chapel of Nelson Berna Funeral Home, 4522 North Crossover Road, Fayetteville, Arkansas, at noon , Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Burial with military honors will follow at Fayetteville National Cemetery, 1000 S. Lt. Col. Leroy Pond Road, Fayetteville, Arkansas, at 1:30 p.m.
To leave a tribute, please visit bernafuneralhomes.com. Arrangements are by Nelson Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville.