Paul Donald Tilley

Dr. Paul Donald Tilley, 77, died February 16, 2009, at his home in Cary, NC, after several months of declining health. Following a private family service, a memorial service will be held Saturday, February 21 at the First Baptist Church in Hudson, NC at 11:00 am. The family will receive afterwards.  He was born in Granite Falls, NC, March 15, 1931, to the late Claude Donald Tilley and Virginia Stirewalt Tilley. After graduation from Granite Falls High School in 1949, he attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, TN, and graduated in 1952. He graduated from Wake Forest College in 1955 and Bowman Gray School of Medicine in 1959. Upon completion of a year?s internship at North Carolina Baptist Hospital, he served as a Captain in the US Army in Berlin, Germany, for two and a half years. He returned to Hudson, NC, in 1963 and opened a General Practice of Medicine, serving many people in the Caldwell County area, until his retirement in 2005.  Involvement in the Boy Scouts of America helped him earn the Eagle Scout Award, and later he was honored with the Silver Beaver Award. Other than a strong passion for his practice, his family, extended family, and friends, were integral parts of his life. He also enjoyed photography, World War II aviation, music, and family vacations.  He is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Phyllis, of the home, daughters Janice (Mark) Edwards of Raleigh, Norma (Clayton) Murphy and grandson Nicholas Paul Murphy of Apex, brother Ray (Betsey) Tilley of Granite Falls, sister-in-law Judy (Ken) Peterson of Winston Salem, niece Stephanie (Angelo) Polonyfis of Matthews, and nephew Donald (Kerry) Tilley of Denton. There are also cousins, great-nieces, nephews, and a great-great niece.  Arrangements are being handled by Evans Funeral Home of Lenoir. In lieu of flowers, as a special request from Paul in honor of Norma, contributions may be made to Carolina Donor Services, 909 East Arlington Blvd., Greenville, NC 27858, or Community Home Care at Hospice, 7714 Chapel Hill Road, Raleigh, NC 27607. Condolences may be made at www.evansfuneralservice.com.  PDF Printable Version