Ralph W. Tilley

Let Us Pause...
To Honor the Memory of
Mr. Ralph W. Tilley
Mr. Ralph W. Tilley, age 76, of 111 East Main Street, Vevay, Indiana, Ralph entered this life on November 5, 1929, at King's Daughter's Hospital in Madison, Indiana, the second son of James Byron, Sr. & Elizabeth Campbell Tilley, both of whom preceded him in death. As a child Ralph enjoyed his parents, his dog "Deacon", swimming, and sports of all kinds. He also began a working career at a young age working for the Cincinnati Enquirer running the local paper route for six years through the eighth grade. He also worked as a farm laborer, janitor at Sullivan's Pharmacy, waiter and general helper at Scott's Confectionary. He was raised in Vevay, and was a 1947, graduate of Vevay High School, where he played basketball for four years and varsity for three years, softball, & served as the Class President. During this time he worked as the assistant town mail carrier, worked the laundry route for Reed's Laundry in Madison. He also served as a clerk and delivery boy for Wiley's Grocery and Scott's Confectionary. Ralph also worked as the janitor at the school. Ralph was a member of the Boy's Scouts of America and was a life scout. He received his business degree in 1951, from Indiana University. During college he worked in the summers at Seagram's Distillery in Lawrenceburg and worked in the kitchen for the fraternity. Ralph also served in the ROTC program at Lowry Air Force Base Denver, Colorado. He also was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity, served as Chairman of the 1951 Military Ball. Ralph was united in marriage on June 17, 1951, to Jean Trowbridge, at the Scottsburg United Methodist Church in Scottsburg, Indiana; this union was blessed with two daughters and a son. Ralph was inducted into the United States Air Force on July 18, 1951, and rose to the rank of First Lieutenant, serving in the Korean War at the 2466 th AFRCTC Air Force Base. He was stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base and the Yakota Air Force Base in Japan. He was honorably discharged on Apr. 3, 1953, from Atterbury Air Force Base in Columbus, receiving the Korean Service Medal and the UN Service Medal. He re-enlisted in the Air Force and rose to the rank of Captain and was honorably discharged on July 23, 1968 from the Department of the Air Force Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center in Denver, Colorado. Ralph was employed as a car distributor for the Studebaker Corporation in South Bend & Kansas City and was responsible for eight states for several years earlier in his life. He had worked for the Vevay Deposit Bank in Vevay for 42-1/2 years, retiring as Chairman & Chief Operating Officer; at the time of his retirement he had held all officer positions in the bank. He had served on the Board of Directors of Vevay Deposit Bank for many years of those years. He was a founding member and past president of The Community Banker's Association in Indianapolis, Indiana; member of the Indiana Banker's Association, served as secretary, vice president & president of region five and a member of the board of directors; member of the Independent Banker's Association of Indiana, and was a founding member, as well as serving in all capacities of that board; he had served as the Indiana director for three years for the Independent Banker's Association of America; he had served as a director of Southeastern Indian Bancorp; he was a member of Who's Who in Business in the USA. He had served as president of the Vevay-Switzerland County Foundation since 1978. He was a member of the Vevay American Legion Post 185; the Vevay VFW Post 5396; served on the board of directors of Switzco Natural Gas Company; and member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Vevay; served as treasurer for the Vevay Sequa Centennial in 1963; he served as a director for the Local Boy Scouts of America Hoosier Hills Council; he had served as chairman of the American Cancer Society; served as treasurer for the Switzerland County Industrial Corp.; Member of the Switzerland County Economic Development Committee; member &organizer of the Vevay Town Park Board; chairman of the Switzerland County Medical Doctor Search Team; member of Ruter Chapel United Methodist Church in Vevay. Ralph had served in many capacities in the community, associations, clubs and affiliations that he participated in, he gave countless hours to anything he took part in. Ralph leaves a legacy of community service to the citizens of Vevay & Switzerland County. Ralph made a final statement in his notes that the highlight of his life was his wife: Jean and his three children & grandchildren.

A LOVING FAMILY
Mr. Tilley will be missed by his wife: Jean Trowbridge Tilley of Vevay, Indiana; 2 daughters: Claudia Jean Wendling & her husband: Fred of Burke, Virginia, Carol Lynn Tilley of Terre Haute, Indiana; grandson: Christopher Michael Wendling of Burke, Virginia; 2 granddaughters: Elizabeth Marie Wendling of Burke, Virginia, Stephanie Lauren Tilley of Morristown, Indiana; 3-nieces, 2-nephews, & other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents: James Byron, Sr. & Elizabeth Campbell Tilley; his son: Ralph Steven "Steve" Tilley, died: May 30, 2005; his brother: J.B. Tilley died: July 18, 1997..

FUNERAL CEREMONY
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, July 9, 2006 at 4:00 pm, by Mrs. Teresa Bovard Lyons, Mr. Howard Wiesmann, Mrs. Evelina Brown, Ms. Carol L. Tilley, Mrs. Claudia Wendling & Mrs. Jean T. Tilley at Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana. Interment will be private in the Vevay Cemetery, Vevay, Indiana.

VISITATION
Visitation from 3pm until time of the service at the Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street Vevay, Indiana.

SPECIAL SERVICES
Private Graveside Service will be conducted at the Vevay Cemetery. Military Rites will be conducted by Vevay American Legion Post 185 & Vevay VFW Post 5396 and the Ceremonial Unit from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base at the Memorial Service

MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS
Memorial contributions may be made to Switzerland County Emergency Unit Endowment. Cards are available at the funeral home.