John Edgar Tilford

John Edgar Tilford, age 82 of Bloomington passed away Sunday October 31, 2010 at the Bloomington Hospital. John was born on August 27, 1928 in Martinsville, Indiana to Edgar Lockhart Tilford and Pauline Riley Tilford. Edgar had started a new job in Lansing, Michigan so Pauline stayed at her parents’ home in Martinsville awaiting the arrival of the new baby. Pauline had a sister Nellie, and Nellie’s boyfriend drove Pauline to the hospital. John was named after that boyfriend, John Wooden, whom later married Nellie. John spent his school years in Webster Groves, Missouri where he also earned the rank of Eagle Scout and Order of Arrow. After graduation he served in the Unites States Marine Corp during World War II. He then attended Butler University Pharmacy School, graduating in 1953. While attending Butler, he married Lois Pritchard on November 7, 1950. John’s first job as a pharmacist was in Alexandria, Indiana, and also worked as a pharmacy representative for Eli Lilly in Jacksonville, Florida. Moving back to Missouri, he worked for Nuclear Consultants. He worked with the procedures involving the use of radioactive isotopes in surgical treatments. The owner of Nuclear Consultants was the young scientist who worked on the Manhattan Project. Nuclear Consultants was later sold to Monsanto. John returned to his work as a pharmacist and moved to Bloomington in 1965 where he worked for Family Pharmacy. He continued to work for various pharmacies before retiring from CVS Pharmacy. John loved fishing, especially “trout fly fishing” at Bennett Springs Missouri. His love of fly fishing was passed down to his children who continue to share John’s passion with family and friends. To this day many young families from the Bloomington area travel to Bennett Springs to enjoy the fly fishing John so dearly loved. John was a member of Phi Delta Theta, E.T. Carson Masonic Lodge of Cincinnati Ohio, Bloomington Elks Lodge #446, American Legion, and First Christian Church. He is survived by wife, Lois and four children; Terri Anderson (John) of Bloomington, Tim Tilford (Barb) of New Harmony, Trent Tilford (Carolyn) of Bloomington, and Robyn Fisk (Brian) of Seekonk, MA. Eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren and two sisters Polly McDonough of Canton, MO, and Betty Schumert of Brentwood, MO. Funeral services for John will be held Thursday November 4, 2010 at 10:00Am at the Allen Funeral Home 4155 South Old Highway 37. Visitation will be on Wednesday November 3, 2010 from 5:00PM until 8:00PM at Allen Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenfuneralhome.org.

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John Edgar Tilford

August 27, 1928 - October 31, 2010