M. W. "Bill" Tilghman

1922 - 2013

Merrill William "Bill" Tilghman

Salisbury-Merrill William "Bill" Tilghman, 91, passed away peacefully at his home in Salisbury on December 22, 2013.

Born in Marion, South Carolina on September 3, 1922, he was the son of the late Charles & Elizabeth Tilghman. Bill spent most of his adult life in Salisbury and founded Salisbury's oldest stock brokerage firm, Laird, Bissell & Meeds in the 1950s, where he worked for nearly 30 years. It remains today as the firm of Morgan Stanley, still located in downtown Salisbury.

Bill grew up in South Carolina, Switzerland, New York, Washington. D.C. and in Somerset County, Maryland on the farm known as Almodington. He was a graduate of Georgetown Preparatory School and Georgetown University, graduating in 1943 from the School of Foreign Service in an accelerated class as a result of World War II. Soon afterward, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy and trained as a supply officer.

In 1946, he left the Navy as a Lieutenant junior grade and returned to Somerset County where he met his wife Frances "Francie" Jarman. They were married on February 7, 1948 at her family's Somerset County home, Brentwood.

Following retirement in 1982, he traveled extensively with his wife, often played golf with lifelong friends and cared lovingly for his sister Catherine during her long illness. He was a lifelong sailor and especially enjoyed his last boat, a 37' powerboat, which he frequently sailed along the Wicomico River.

Bill was a prominent community leader and philanthropist. With his wife, he helped found the Salisbury Kennel Club sixty years ago. He also served as the president of the Wicomico Public Library's Board of Trustees during the planning and construction of the current downtown facility. He was active in the Power Squadron and spent many months each year volunteering to help seniors prepare their tax returns.

His wife of 62 years, Francie Jarman Tilghman passed away in 2009. His siblings, Charles Tilghman, Mary Elizabeth Dent and Catherine "Tigger" Tilghman, also preceded him in death. Two sons survive him, M.W. "Mat" Tilghman, Jr., his wife, former Salisbury Mayor Barrie Tilghman, of Salisbury and Michael Gordon Tilghman and his wife, Paula, of Baltimore. In addition, a grandson, Andrew Tilghman, his wife Dina and their sons, Eli and Luke Tilghman of Silver Spring, Maryland as well as his granddaughter, Catherine, "Casey" and her husband Chris Smith of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania survive Mr. Tilghman. The family expresses its deepest appreciation to his primary caregiver, Gay Adkins who has cared for him faithfully for almost five years. Thanks also to Companion Home Care which made around the clock care at home possible.

A mass of Christian burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. at St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church at 514 Riverside Drive in Salisbury on Friday, January 3, 2013. The family will host a celebration of Bill's life at Brew River Pub immediately following the service. Internment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be considered to Coastal Hospice P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, MD 21802 or the Salisbury Kennel Club Charitable Trust, Inc. at P.O. Box 1264, Salisbury, Md. 21802. Please visit www.boundsfuneralhome.com for letters of condolence.