Richard Lee Tillinghast , age 79 of La Porte, IN, died Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at the University of Chicago Hospital, Chicago, IL, following a brief illness.
He was born July 3, 1933 in LaPorte, son of Lee Ross and Ruth Hartman Tillinghast. Most often called Dick throughout his life, he was a 1951 graduate of Union Mills High School and was on the 1950 Union Mills Sectional Championship Basketball Team which defeated Michigan City. He was a proud U.S. Army Veteran serving in the Korean War. On September 24, 1960 in LaPorte, he married Iris West and was married for almost 52 years.
Dick was retired from Tillinghast Insurance Agency, LaPorte and Wannatah, IN as former Owner and Insurance Agency. He loved spending time with family and friends in LaPorte, Grayslake and FL. Always eager to visit his 2 grandchildren, he loved wathcing them grow and partipate in sports. No matter where he was in the US though, he lived, ate and slept golf. Dick was a long-time member of both the Beachwood Men's Golf League and the LaPorte YMCA where he was fondly known as "Tilly".
Surviving are his wife, Iris Tillinghast of LaPorte; daughter, Nanette (Brad) Hermsen of Grayslake, IL; grandson, Bryce Richard Hermsen and granddaughter, Bennett Lee Hermsen; Michael (Kathy) Turner of Altamonte Springs, FL; sister in laws, Martha Hindsley, June (Gene) Collings, and Bobbie Cole; nephews, Jim (Susan) Aaron, Michael (Sharon) Fricke, Ron (Pat) Foster, Dean (Sue) Collings, Dave (Sharon) Collings, Dan Collings; nieces, Libby Kline, Lesa (Gary) Whitlark, Darla Adams along with several other nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his mother and step-father, Ruth Hartman and Harry Wordell; his father and step-mother, Lee Ross and Helen Tillinghast.
Friends will be received from 3 – 8 PM Tuesday, August 21, 2012 at the Cutler Funeral Home, LaPorte, IN.
Services will be held at 11 AM, Wednesday, August 22 at the LaPorte Presbyterian Church with Rev. Sally Wicks officiating. Visitation will also take place at the church on Wednesday from 10 - 11 AM.
Interment will follow in the Patton Cemetery with full military honors conducted by the LaPorte Honor Guard.
Contributions may be made to The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, 1640 South Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90025; Horizon Endowment Club of the LaPorte YMCA, 901 Michigan Ave La Porte, IN 46350; or to the foundation of the donor's choice.
Friends may send condolences to www.cutlerfuneralhome.com. A special thank-you to the many friends in LaPorte who supported Dick through his illness. Your visits, hugs, morning newspapers and countless rides to doctor appointments were appreciated more than can be expressed.
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