Mrs. Martha Frances "Francie" Tilghman

Martha Frances “Francie� Jarman Tilghman passed away peacefully at her home in Salisbury on April 5, 2009. Born on August 11, 1927 in Utica, New York she was the daughter of the late Shelby Hammond and Margaret Duval Jarman. She grew up in Waterville, New York, spending summers at her grandparents and then parents’ farm outside Princess Anne, Maryland, where she met her husband. They were married there on February 7, 1948. She was a graduate of The Fox Hollow School in Lenox, Massachusetts. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, M.W. “Bill� Tilghman; and her two sons and their wives, M.W. “Mat� Tilghman, Jr and his wife, Mayor Barrie Tilghman, of Salisbury, and Michael G. Tilghman and his wife, Paula, of Baltimore. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Andrew Tilghman and his wife, Dina Cappiello, of Washington D.C., and Catherine “Casey� also of Washington D.C. In addition to her sister, Margaret D.J. Webb of Salisbury, she is survived by numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Francie was one of the founding members of the Salisbury, Maryland Kennel Club in 1953. She held virtually every office in the Kennel Club, including several terms as President. She worked diligently to promote the Club’s training classes, and initiated the Breeder Referral Service in this area. As the Club’s first Public Education Coordinator, she presented programs at area public schools. She was a passionate advocate for education as to the responsibilities of dog ownership. She was also active and committed to Pets on Wheels, an outreach program connecting seniors to pets. While her love of animals led her to breed, raise and show poodles, dachshunds and Sheltie collies, she cared deeply for mixed breed dogs and served the Wicomico County Humane Society. She was president during the transition from the outdated facility on Marine Road to the more spacious facility on Citation Drive. Beyond her family and her dogs, Francie Tilghman was devoted to young people. She was a highly successful reading tutor, helping many area children improve their reading skills, regardless of their ability to pay for her professional services. Her love of reading and of children took her to the Salisbury School as the School’s first librarian and as a cooperating teacher in the pre-school class for five years. Francie and Bill Tilghman loved to travel. They took their grandchildren to Disney World a number of times and their last trip was a Mississippi River Cruise with their family. Francie loved her husband but did not share his passion for golf and boating, announcing on her 40th birthday that she had limited time left and was not going to spend it on pursuits she did not enjoy. Despite that she supported her family in every way, operating a kennel while Bill began a career as a stockbroker and helping Bill in later years care for his sister Catherine, a victim of Alzheimer’s. She was a terrific mother, mother-in-law, wife, grandmother and friend. She cared deeply about everyone she met, especially young people. A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Bounds Funeral Home on East Main Street in Salisbury. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salisbury, Maryland Kennel Club, PO Box 1881, Salisbury, MD 21802. Interment will be private.