John Donald Hiatt, Sr.

Mr. John Donald Hiatt, Sr. of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at his home on January 20, 2023, returning to his Heavenly Father. He is survived by four children (and their spouses), Keith Hiatt (Becky), Dr. Paul Hiatt (Christina), Anne Stuart (Darryl), and Dr. Mark Hiatt (Amy); and daughter-in-law, Jane Hiatt.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Hiatt, and son, Dr. John (“Don”) Hiatt.

Mr. Hiatt cherished his life as a father of five, grandfather of twenty-two, and great-grandfather of thirty-one, who love him dearly. He will be greatly missed. Family activities and events over the years will remain treasured memories for all his posterity. His lifelong kindness, loving guidance, generosity, service, and selflessness will be remembered and appreciated by many. He was known for going to great lengths to support his descendants in their aspirations and to be of service to them. He endured to the end, with charity and grace.

Mr. Hiatt was born on February 27, 1927, to the late William and Gracie Hiatt. He grew up in Sheltontown in Surry County near Mount Airy, North Carolina, graduating from Flat Rock High School as valedictorian in 1944. He was also preceded in death by nine siblings, Pearlie Love, Dennis Hiatt, Stella Williams, Annie Vogler, William (“Harvey”) Hiatt, Delia Sechrist, Lillian King, Vernie Hinton, and Dr. Roger Hiatt.

After serving at the end of World War II in the specialized training program of the United States Army at Vanderbilt and North Carolina State universities, Mr. Hiatt received undergraduate and graduate degrees in mathematics and school administration from Appalachian State University in North Carolina. He then taught high school mathematics in Surry and Forsyth counties of North Carolina in the early 1950s. An outstanding teacher, he was honored by the senior class in its yearbook dedication to him, and was awarded a graduate fellowship at Union College in New York. While attending Union College, he met his wife, who had received a similar fellowship. They married on August 23, 1952.

In 1953, Mr. Hiatt joined Lincoln National Corporation (formerly Jefferson Pilot Financial). Based in Winston-Salem, he provided insurance and financial services to clients in ten counties in northwestern North Carolina as an agent, then District Manager, and then Regional Agency Manager, in a career spanning over sixty years. His service to the people of this area brought him much satisfaction. He received numerous awards for his work, and earned the professional designations of Chartered Financial Consultant and Chartered Life Underwriter from the American College of Life Underwriters.

Mr. Hiatt supported many community organizations. He served in civic groups, coached his sons’ baseball teams, and encouraged his sons in scouting, all of whom became Eagle Scouts.

A man of unwavering faith, Mr. Hiatt was a lifelong member of, and leader in, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving as a missionary in his youth, bishop of one of the congregations in Winston-Salem for four years, and member of the high counsel for several congregations in central North Carolina for over seventeen years. His four sons also served church missions in Switzerland, Italy, and Germany.

The family will be holding a private ceremony in his honor.  Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel is serving the family of Mr. Hiatt.