chilton was born on may 27, 1900 in remington, virginia, the son of charles blackwell chilton and harriet whiting scott glassell hamilton. he studied at the virginia polytechnic institute between 1918 and 1920 and the at the university of virginia from where he graduated with a bachelor of arts in 1921. he also studied at the virginia theological seminary and graduated in 1924 with a bachelor of divinity. he married harriet harrington mcmillan on september 3, 1925 and together had three children. he was awarded a doctor of divinity in 1957.