Joseph Tillman III

(News story) Joseph L. Tillman III, an executive in the steel castings business his father ran who became a leader in fiber glass and composites, died Sunday in Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg Township. He was 89.

Mr. Tillman of Springfield Township had a stroke July 31, his daughter Jennifer said.

The longtime South Toledo resident, with University of Notre Dame business degree in hand, began his career with Unitcast Corp., where his father, Joseph, Jr., would become president and chairman. But the younger Mr. Tillman began working in the foundry.

"He thought it was important to know the business from the ground up," his daughter said.

As Mr. Tillman made his way through the ranks, he learned most jobs, eventually becoming general manager of Front Street and Millard Avenue plants in East Toledo, and later a Unitcast vice president.

The family saw that the future was in materials other than steel, such as fiberglass-reinforced plastics, for instance. A subsidiary called UnitPlastics, of which the younger Mr. Tillman was president, opened a Liberty Center, Ohio, plant in 1961 and made components for automotive and agricultural uses and the electrical industry.

Mr. Tillman later opened a business in Springfield, Ohio, that made parts for hearses and stretch limousines and wastewater treatment plants, but also museum displays.

His object, said his son Jeffrey, who ran the Springfield plant, was to employ people and promote the fiberglass and composites business.

"He wasn't afraid to tackle anything," his son said.

Mr. Tillman retired about 1996 and sold Glasgo in 2003, his son said.

He was born Sept. 18, 1925, to Wilhelmina and Joseph Tillman, Jr., and was a graduate of Campion Jesuit High School, a boarding school in Prairie du Chien, Wis.

He was a gunner in the Navy and served in Europe at the end of World War II. He pursued business studies at Notre Dame because "he wanted to go into the family business," his daughter said.

He and the former Elizabeth Jane Johnson married on June 5, 1948. His wife was unable to have children and so the couple adopted four children over a period of years from Montreal - the last two, Jennifer and Jeffrey, now 57, are twins.

"I've had the honor the last year of my dad's life to take care of him. I'm a nurse," daughter Jennifer said.

His wife died Sept. 26, 2002.

Surviving are his sons, Joseph IV and Jeffrey Tillman; daughters, Julie and Jennifer Tillman; sister, Cindy Hagan; brothers, Richard and William Tillman; two grandchildren, and a great-grandson.

The family will greet visitors from 3-7 p.m. Thursday in the Coyle Funeral Home. Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Friday in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, where he was a member.

The family suggests tributes to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.

This story was written by Blade Staff Writer Mark Zaborney. Contact him at: mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.