Thomas Cato Tillar

Thomas Cato Tillar of Emporia, died Tuesday, December 9, 2003. He was born January 16, 1924, the son of Benjamin Fluornoy and Mabel Cato Tillar. Mr. Tillar is survived by his wife of 57 years, the former Ruth Weimer; two children, Thomas Cato Tillar Jr. of Blacksburg and Elizabeth Kennedy Tillar of Tamworth, New Hampshire; and a sister, Frances Tillar Way of Raleigh, North Carolina. A graduate of Emporia High School, Mr. Tillar received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering, class of 1945, at Virginia Tech. He was a member of the German Club and Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. The Thomas Cato and Ruth W. Tillar Scholarship in the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department of Virginia Tech was established in 2001 by his son, Thomas Cato Tillar Jr. In 2002, Mr. Tillar was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Alumni of the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department. In World War II, Mr. Tillar served as a naval fighter pilot aboard the U.S. Hornet. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and five air medals. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. Beginning in 1948, Mr. Tillar enjoyed a lengthy career with W.T. Tillar Co., Inc., where he served as president. In 1958, he was elected President of the Virginia Hardware Association. Mr. Tillar participated in many civic activities. He served on the Emporia City Council for 16 years. He was a longtime member and Treasurer of the Emporia Greensville Airport Commission. He achieved a 54-year perfect attendance record with the Emporia Rotary Club where he was a past president and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a past director of Essex Savings Bank and the Emporia Country Club. He was a member of the Village View Board, the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Greensville County Historical Society. Mr. Tillar was a lifetime member of First Presbyterian Church of Emporia where he served as an elder and past treasurer. The family will receive friends at Echols Funeral Home on Thursday, December 11, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 12 at the First Presbyterian Church. Interment to follow in Emporia Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Emporia, 210 South Main Street, Emporia, Va. 23847, or the Village View Foundation, 221 Briggs Street, Emporia, Va. 23847.