Russell Lenward Tilley

A memorial service will be held at 11:00am, Saturday, April 22, 2017, at Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home Chapel. Inurnment will be at Fort Sill National Cemetery at a later date.

Russell was born on August 28, 1930 in Columbus, North Carolina to Francis Gilreath and Lillie Price Tilley. He married Mildred Jackson Tilley on August 15, 1961 in Hendersonville, North Carolina. She preceded him in death on May 5, 2007. He served in both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force and retired as a Sr. Master Sergeant from the U.S. Air Force. He was a member of the Sunnyside Baptist Church, American Legion Post 202, DAV Chapter 41, and VFW Post 8878. He loved helping out with the Faith Mission and also loved travelling, taking road trips, gardening and plants. His favorite thing was to go somewhere, sit, watch people, and make new friends. He was also preceded in death by a sister: Geneva Tilley and a brother: J.L. Tilley.

Survivors include his daughter: Denice Tilley and husband Michael Hines of Newnan, Georgia; niece: Kathleen Culbreath of North Carolina; granddaughter: Asheley Tilley and wife Andrea of Burkburnett; great-granchildren: Amiyah Veldhuizen and Christyauna Veldhuizen.

Online condolences may be made at hamptonvaughancrestview.com.