Jon "Mike" Michael Lilge

Jon Michael Lilge, 85, of Randleman, passed away peacefully from Moses Cone Hospital on Friday, April 25, 2025 after conversing and expressing gratitude and prayer with family members directly before he entered whole and healed into the arms of Jesus.

Mike loved his Lord and Savior and actively shared Jesus with others, including making trips to the National Mall in Washington DC to share his faith and embarking on missions trips to Honduras in his younger years. Daily prayer was a long-term habit and his children and grandchildren were at the top of his list. He previously attended First Wesleyan Church of High Point.

Mike was born in Washington D.C., graduated from McLean High School in Virginia, where he lettered in track. He matriculated with a scholarship to Virginia Military Institute and earned a degree in Physics with the class of 1962. He was extremely fond of his VMI “brother rats” as they called one another. He was in the Air Force ROTC for four years and received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force. Later in 1962, as an interim Physics instructor at VMI, a car accident left him in a coma and paralyzed, but God wasn’t finished with him. He recovered, though his Air Force dreams were ended, he moved into Air Force Retired Reserve.

In Mike’s own words, “In 1966 I had a personal encounter with the LORD Jesus and my life has been blessed ever since. From my track record, few blessings are evident, however the audible voice of God said to me, ‘none of these things move me….’ This quotes His Word, the Bible, from Acts 20:24a (KJV).”

Mike’s additional favorite scripture passages were, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him from them all.” Psalm 34:19 (KJV). “We know all things work together for the good, to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (KJV).“

Mike taught High School Physics and Algebra in Virginia, followed by a government career with Harry Diamond Laboratories in Washington D.C., eventually performing classified testing in White Sands, New Mexico. Later he worked in various nuclear power plants in radiation control, and retired in 2009 from Argonne National Laboratories in Illinois, as a radiation protection technician.

He had a cheerful and humorous disposition and was known to avoid complaining despite many health challenges including ten years of kidney failure and dialysis. His mind was sharp and he could recall old addresses and phone numbers from various states he lived including VA, MD, FL, AZ, SC, IL, and NC. He loved good food, especially Chinese and New England clam chowder and he eagerly looked forward to going out to eat or having meals or snacks brought to him. Remembering people’s names was important to him, whether waitresses, church friends, or the staff serving him so kindly at North Pointe of Asheboro, and the Asheboro Kidney Center. His favorite songs will be shared from his favorite artists at his celebration of life.

Mike was preceded in death by his mother Doris Hope Day Lilge and father Louis Meade Lilge, who are both buried at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as his brother Douglas Lilge. He expressed fond memories of his Granny Lilge, who took a large part in raising him, when his mom passed when he was only seven. He is survived by his brother Greg (Jill) Lilge and two daughters, Brenda Delegatti (David) of Greenville SC, and Elaine McAden (Robert) of Randleman NC and his ex-wife of many years Ruth Graybill Hughes.

Grandchildren surviving include Daniel Delegatti, Dustin Delegatti, Christian Segers (Savannah), Hope Cochran (Ethan), and Faith Barts (Ian).

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Pugh Funeral Home in Asheboro.

Pugh Funeral Home is serving the Lilge Family.

Live stream of the service may be found here.