Richard William Tillery

Tillery, Richard William ? of Knoxville, born July 7, 1923 at Norwood Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama, passed away on Monday, September 25, 2006. He was a member of Church Street United Methodist Church and was a soloist or choir director at several Knoxville and New England Churches. Richard was a graduate of the University of Tennessee; attended Clemson College, South Carolina, and New England Conservatory of Music, Boston. He was a veteran pilot of the United States Air Force having served during the European Theater, WWII and recalled for the Korean War. Richard worked as a teacher; investment company representative; magazine feature writer; photographer and/or editor for several dozen publications and was a longtime Mobile Meals volunteer. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at UT; American Federation of Musicians (life); The Authors Guild; Sons of the Revolution; O?Connor Singing Seniors; Percussive Arts Society; and was a former member of the Knoxville Symphony and UT Opera Workshop. Richard married Peggy Ann Elliott, August 25, 1948, on the radio Bride and Groom Show, Hollywood, California, after meeting in local Jr. Chamber of Commerce?s production of Victor Herbert?s ?Sweethearts.? Preceded in death by parents, Harold Kingsley Tillery and Mable Peake Tillery. Survived by wife of 58 years, Peggy Tillery; children, Philip Kingsley Tillery; Julie Ann and Dr. Richard Spore, Lititz, Pennsylvania; Mark Elliott Tillery, Knoxville; grandchildren, Maj. Eric and Shannon Wright; Kristin Wright; Andrew, Tiffany and Kelly Spore; great-grandchildren, Olivia, Tyler and Claire Wright; several in-laws; nieces and nephews. Family and friends will meet at Woodlawn Cemetery on Saturday for 2 PM graveside services, Rev. Cabel W. Trent and Rev. William J. Fowler officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 55 South Progress Avenue, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17109 or Church Street United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1303, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901. There will be a call of convenience on Friday at Berry Funeral Home, Chapman Highway.