Ross Edward Tillman, Jr.

January 8, 1921 — October 23, 2008

Ross Edward Tillman, Jr. 87, of Clarkston, who served his country in three wars, World War II, the Korean conflict, and the Vietnam conflict, died October 23, 2008 at EmoryHospital. Colonel Tillman’s military career began in 1942, a few months after the Pearl Harbor attack, and he retired after 30 years of active service. Desiring to follow in the footsteps of his father, his favorite class instructor at Wheeling High School in WV, he was planning to go to college to become an electrical engineer when his draft notice came. A battery of test given the young private indicated his aptitude for electronics and so began a 30 year career in communications and air defense at stations in Alaska, Japan, Germany and many stateside assignments. Assigned first to the Airborne Radar School at Boca Raton AFB in Florida, he was shortly named instructor. In 1943 he was sent to Officer’s Candidate School in North Carolina and was commissioned a 2^nd Lieutenant. By 1948, as a Captain, he was named commander of the 8^th Signal Corps Air Depot at Elmendorf Air Force Base, responsible for electronic systems at air bases and air stations throughout the Alaskan Territory. In the Korean Conflict Captain Tillman was assigned to Itazuki Air Station, Japan where he was responsible for aircraft and warning squadrons, communications and relay sites and also direction finding stations. In 1955 Major Tillman was stationed at the Air Proving Ground Command, Eglin AFB, Florida and later testing a new air defense system of communication and electronics for the Tactical Air Command at Shaw AFB, SC. In the 1960’s Lt Col. Tillman became Director of Engineering at Brookley AFB in Mobile, AL. He was in charge of engineering and administrative personnel processing communications, electronics and meteorological engineering plans for the eastern third of the United States, eastern half of Canada and parts of Western Europe. He previously served at USAFE Headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany setting up a new computerized defense system for the German Air Force. In 1967 he commanded DEW stations in Driftwood Bay, Aleutian Islands, 800 miles of Anchorage, AK. Its mission was to provide round the clock surveillance and to alert the US mainland of approaching enemy aircraft. Here, on this isolated base where no dependents were allowed, he was responsible for the education and recreation as well as the physical and mental welfare of his men. Serving as assistant chaplain, he also ministered to their spiritual needs, conducting weekly worship services and Bible studies for the men. During his service career, he served the Lord in the capacity of an Elder at Sage Ave. Church of Christ in Mobile, AL (1964-1967) and at the Plaza Church of Christ in Sumter, SC (1969-1972). Retiring from the military as a Lt. Col. in 1972, he found a new field of service as administrator at Christian Towers, a new high rise for the elderly built by the Decatur Church of Christ on Church St. in Decatur, GA. While serving as administrator of Christian Towers, he also served as Minister to the Elderly at Decatur Church of Christ (1973-1977). In addition to his duties at Christian Towers, he was an active volunteer at the Decatur and Northlake Churches of Christ, where he and his wife Shirley were members. In both his military and retirement careers, Shirley was an important partner. They were married 51 and a half years at the time of her death in 1996. Survivors are his children, David Ross Tillman of Flower Mound, TX, Sandra Lee Martin of White Bluff, TN, Susanne Marie Switzer of Columbia, SC and Laurie Kaye Morris, of Pawleys Island, SC. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and a brother Kenneth Lee Tillman of Wheeling, WV. The funeral service will be at the A.S. Turner & Sons Chapel at 3:00 PM on Sunday, October 26th with interment at Floral Hills Memory Gardens, Tucker, GA. Dr. Carson Reed, Joe Glenn, and Ike Reeser will conduct the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Northlake Church of Christ Building Fund, 1625 Cooledge Road, Tucker, Georgia, 30084. The family will receive friends and family from 7 to 9 PM on Saturday and from 1:30 to 3:00 PM on Sunday at A. S. Turner & Sons.

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Ross Edward Tillman, Jr.

January 8, 1921 — October 23, 2008

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