Longtime area educator Chilton dies at 84

Roseville's education community lost one of its guiding members last week with the death of Barbara Chilton, a longtime local educator who left her stamp on students, faculty and administration. She was 84.Chilton died May 25 due to complications from congestive heart failure, family members said.During her 24 years with the Roseville City School District, Chilton served in classroom and administrative capacities, starting as a seventh-grade teacher at Eich Intermediate School in the 1960s and ending up head of special education, counseling and nurses.In January, Chilton's legacy was honored when RCSD trustees named the district's fourth middle school, currently under construction, Barbara Chilton Middle School."To me, it's the best thing in the world," she said in a January interview with The Press-Tribune.Rich Pierucci, RCSD superintendent, expressed his condolences Friday."It is fortunate that Barbara was well enough at the time to experience the joy of the naming of Barbara Chilton Middle School, the district's 18th school," he said. "She will live forever in the minds and hearts of future generations of students."Chilton grew up in Oakland and attended UC Berkeley, where she met her husband, Frank Chilton Jr., a fourth-generation Roseville resident and a great-grandson of pioneer Elizabeth Jane Fiddyment Atkinson. He died in 1985.The couple moved to Roseville after World War II and raised four daughters. The oldest, Mary Pat, was starting college at Sacramento State when her mother decided to obtain her teaching credential from the same institution."There was a time when both her oldest daughter and she were attending Sac State and were waving at each other on the sidewalks," Mary Pat Gayaldo recalled with a laugh. "How many people wave at their mother as a co-ed?"As her career progressed, Chilton garnered more credentials. She received a master's in counseling and an administrative credential, and, in 1980, a doctorate in school management."What I learned from her is that she was a lifelong learner; she taught me to never stop learning, that it's a continual process," said daughter Carol Garcia. "Growing up, it was always an educational experience with her."Her commitment to education left quite an impression on granddaughter Raeanne Garcia, who has followed in her grandmother's footsteps by recently receiving a teaching credential from Sacramento State."I always strive to be like her," Garcia said. "She gave nothing but 100 percent, and everything was always, 'Strive for excellence.' She just taught me don't stop learning."After her retirement from the district in 1987, Chilton taught and mentored aspiring teachers at National University, where she served as a supervisor for the school's student teacher program until a debilitating stroke in 2004 left her unable to work.Outside of education, Chilton was remembered as a well-known community volunteer, serving on a laundry list of charitable organizations. "If anyone were to have a bake sale, she would always bake real good cookies and her pies were out of this world," said longtime friend and neighbor Melba Erven. "She'd make this chocolate roll, with whipped cream rolled up, and a lemon meringue pie you'd die for."Another love was her garden, where Chilton would often work until sundown."Oh my goodness, she would get onto her hands and knees, but the funny thing is she never got dirty," Erven said. "She always looked like she just got out of the house."Retired teacher and current RCSD board member Susan Goto agreed."She was such a classy lady," she said. "I called her the 'hostess with the mostess.' I admired her and always used to tell her she was my role model."I'm so glad we were able to let her know the name of the middle school," she continued. "She'll be with us forever."Chilton is survived by her four daughters, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Memorial services were held Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the South Placer Breast Cancer Endowment, PO Box 564, Roseville CA 95678.