Oscar E. Tilson, 86, TN, obituary; Hensley-Tilson
Oscar E. Tilson, 86, 300 Oscar Tilson Road, Erwin, Unicoi
Co TN, died Monday, April 27, 2009, at the Johnson City
Medical Center following a brief illness, Johnson City,
Washington Co TN.
Mr. Tilson was a lifelong resident of Unicoi County. He
was a son of the late William Frank and Hattie Hensley
Tilson.
Mr. Tilson was retired with more than twenty-two years of
service from the Engineering Department of the Veterans
Affairs Medical Center, Mountain Home, where he worked
with Grounds and Maintenance.
He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran, where he served
in the Pacific Theatre, primarily the Philippine Islands,
and received the Purple Heart.
Mr. Tilson was a member of Clear Branch Baptist Church
where he was a Deacon and taught the Junior Boy’s Sunday
School Class for many years. He loved farming, especially
raising cattle.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Tilson was preceded in
death by two brothers, Ward Tilson and Avis Tilson.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Viola
Tilson; his son and daughter-in-law, James O. and Geraldine
Tilson, Erwin, TN; his special brothers-in-law, Ralph
Tilson and wife, Marie, and Robert Tilson, all of Newport
News, VA; two special cousins, Kathleen Cooper and Glassie
Peterson, both of Erwin, TN; several nieces and nephews,
including Mike and Judy Lewis, Erwin, TN, Lorraine Tilson
and Kyle Tilson, both of Newport News, VA; and special
friends, Mike and Flora Kay Shelton, Erwin, TN.
The family will receive friends Wednesday from 5 p.m.
until 7 p.m., in the funeral home chapel and other times
at the residence.
The funeral service for Mr. Tilson will be conducted
Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at 7 p.m., from the Robert
Ledford Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Bill Ponder
officiating. Special music will be provided by the Shelton
Family. Pallbearers will be Mike Shelton, Keith Whitson,
Mike Lewis, Wayne Lloyd, Dwight Gregg, Anthony Gregg and
Willard Tipton.
The graveside committal service will be held Thursday,
April 30, 2009, at 1 p.m. in Clear Branch Baptist Church
Cemetery. Family, minister, pallbearers and friends are
requested to meet at the cemetery by 12:50 p.m., Thursday.
Condolences for the family may be sent to [email protected].
Robert Ledford Funeral Home, 720 Ohio Avenue, Erwin, is in
charge of the arrangements. 743-1380