John G. Tilghman

Mr. Tilghman died Saturday, Nov. 15, 2003, in Topeka.

He was born Oct. 8, 1918, in Philadelphia, the son of Walter and Lydia Roberts Tilghman. He moved to Topeka with his family in 1936. He graduated from Topeka High School in 1938 and received a bachelor’s degree from Baker University in 1947.

Mr. Tilghman served in the Naval Reserve in the European, African and Pacific theaters during World War II and in Hawaii during the Korean War. He retired as a lieutenant commander. He was a teacher and scoutmaster at Kansas Boys Industrial School for two years, then became its business manager in 1953. It later became the Youth Center in Topeka, and he retired from there in 1983.

He was a member and officer of Kansas Avenue United Methodist Church, president and treasurer of North Topeka Kiwanis Club and lieutenant governor of Kiwanis District XI. He was a lifelong member and leader in Boy Scouts of America, where he served as district commissioner and on the Jayhawk Council Board and received the Silver Beaver Award for adult leadership. He was active in the Baker University Alumni Assn.

He married Altha “Rusty” Ruth Warner in 1944. She survives of Topeka.

Other survivors include four sons, Douglas, Lawrence, Phillip, St. Louis, and Kenneth and Richard, both of Topeka; a daughter, Debbie Packard, Topeka; 16 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home, where family will receive them from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. today.

The family suggests memorials to the church, Jayhawk Area Council of Boy Scouts of America or North Topeka Kiwanis Club, sent in care of the funeral home, 1035 N. Kansas Ave., Topeka 66608.