Robert Elliott Terwilleger

Robert Elliott Terwilleger November 19, 1915 - November 12. 2008 Port St. Lucie , FL - Robert Elliott (Sam) Terwilleger's life journey ended on November 12. 2008 at home in Port St. Lucie , FL with his wife Geraldine at his side. He was the son of Bertrand and Katherine (vonGerichten) Terwilleger, born on November 19, 1915 in South Killingly, CT and was the last of eleven children. Brothers Arthur, Francis (Bud), Bertrand (Orv), Russell and George (Mike) pre-deceased him, as well as sisters Lillian Moffitt Baraclough, Katherine Campbell, Margaret Kibbe, Alice Mott and Louise Oatley. He married Geraldine (Champagne) Elliott on January 16, 1988. Sam graduated from Killingly High School in 1934. He left employment at Pratt & Whitney to serve his country during World Warr II. He was in the 97th Infantry Division and deployed to both Germany and Japan. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, Good Conduct Medal and several other citations. Serving in the reserves until the Korean War the 43rd Division was federalized and sent to Germany. Honorably discharged in 1954, he remained in the reserves for several years. Returning to civilian life, he was Factory Superintendent for many years. His last employment was as a Consultant with Fraass Survival Systems in the Bronx, NY. Active in civil affairs, he served 6 years on the Killingly Town Council, was a long-time member of the Killingly Republican Town Committee and a lifetime member of East Killinglly VFW Post 4908. Sam resided on Terwilleger Road for 71 years until he relocated to Port St. Lucie in 2004. He was a homebody, yet enjoyed the outdoors fishing, ice fishing, and riding his motorcycle into his 80s. In South Killingly, Sam spent endless hours in his bountiful garden which he shared with family and friends. He and Gerri enjoyed traveling, their "snowbird" winters in Fort Pierce, Florida, their homes and being together on "Sam's Porch" in Port St. Lucie. Besides his wife, Sam leaves his beloved daughter Jean Burton, who assisted in his final care and her husband Henry of Brooklyn, CT; granddaughters Susan (Paul) Theroux and Patricia Tubman (John Bradbury); great-grandsons Thomas Theroux, Devin, Sam and Ross Bradbury, all of CT. He also leaves stepson Cullen Elliott and partner, Brian Andrews of Lake Worth, FL; stepdaughter Sandra Elliott, step granddaughter Roxanne Sclafani, step great-grandson Joseph Daley and step-great-granddaughter Leah Contreras of Brooklyn, NY as well as many nieces, nephews and their families. Sam will be cremated and burial will be in the South Killingly Cemetery at the convenience of the family at a later date.