Walter Curtis Tilghman

Walter Curtis Tilghman, 79, often known as “Pops,” passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 7, 2014 in Chattanooga, Tennessee alongside his daughters Joy Campbell and Tracie Pratt, his son-in-law Tracer Pratt, and his wife of 52 years, Joyce Tilghman. The cause of death was injuries sustained in a fall he took on Saturday, September 6. His final days were spent doing his favorite thing in the world, enjoying his grandchildren. Born February 24, 1935 in Jacksboro, Texas to Charlie Otto and Annella Tilghman, Walter attended Jacksboro High School. After high school, he served in the United States Coast Guard, where he was stationed aboard the USCGS Mackinaw, a historic ice cutter on the Great Lakes. While serving in the Coast Guard, Walter traveled all over the world before returning home to Jack County. On November 12, 1962, Walter married Joyce Lucille Self of Antelope, Texas. The couple soon welcomed their first daughter, Joy Lynette Tilghman. Their second daughter, Tracie Curtis Tilghman, would be born 10 years later. The family moved just outside Jermyn, Texas in 1968 and has lived there ever since. For 33 years, Walter worked for Hexcel Corporation in Graham, Texas, a company that manufactured composite materials and structural parts. Later, Walter worked in the oil industry, managing leases throughout Jack County and surrounding areas. He also managed the ranch for DDG Company. An avid reader and a notorious coffee shop regular, Walter was a well-known fixture across north Texas. He will be remembered especially for his selfless and kind acts, his stories (which were oftentimes “tall tales”), his tendency to walk through the front door with Herd’s Burgers for everyone, handing his grandkids $20 bills and scratch off lottery tickets, and for that mischievous grin. Survivors include his wife Joyce Tilghman; his daughter Joy Campbell and her husband Ralph of Henrietta, Texas, and her children Taylor Bailey of Chicago, Jordan Carver and husband Bradley of Saginaw, Texas and Heather Hicks of Henrietta, Texas; his daughter Tracie Pratt, her husband Tracer, and their children Jacob, Lauren, and Jackson, all of Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee; his sisters Dora Ann Roberts, Myrtle Fae Tilghman, Verna Stansell and his brothers Glen and Harold Tilghman. He also leaves behind many loving brothers- and sisters-in-law, countless friends, everyone he argued politics with over coffee, and a whole host of young people who knew him only as “Pops”. Walter is preceded in death by his parents Charlie and Anella Tilghman, his brothers Charles and Steve Tilghman, his grandson Eric Bailey, Jr., his parents-in-law Viola and Erno Woody, and his former son-in-law Eric Bailey. Family visitation will take place at Coker Funeral Home in Jacksboro, Texas at 6:00pm on Thursday, September 11. Services will be held at 2pm Friday, September 12 at Christian Missions Church in Jacksboro, Texas at 2381 Highway 380 West. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery in Jermyn, Texas. If so desired memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or at www.stjude.org

Walter Curtis Tilghman

February 24, 1935 - September 7, 2014