Paul "Bill" William Tillman Jr.

Bill was born August 13th, 1946, in Raleigh, NC to Paul William Tillman Sr and Hilda Modlin Tillman. Bill was the second child, born five years after his sister, Anna. Growing up in Raleigh, Bill developed a life-long interest in science and math, graduating from Broughton High School in 1964 and attending North Carolina State University (NCSU) where he majored in Physics. After graduating NCSU in 1968, Bill entered a doctoral program in Nuclear Physics, excelling as a graduate student, before being drafted into the United States Navy in 1969.

After demonstrating a proficiency in electronics, Bill was selected to be a Torpedo Specialist and served in the US Navy for four years in that capacity in multiple international assignments. He contracted a life-threatening illness while stationed in the Philippines. Surviving against incredible odds, Bill completed his service after recovering and returned to Raleigh, NC in 1974. Back home in NC, Bill leaned on his church community, readjusting to civilian life and returning to NCSU, where he earned a Master’s degree in Computer Science and Operations Research in 1976. During this period, he met the love of his life, Peggy Messick, an assistant in Public Health Nursing in Chapel Hill, NC at the time.

Bill married Peggy on October 25th, 1980, and shortly thereafter accepted a job with the NC Office of State Budget and Management as an Associate State Demographer. Promoted into the senior State Demographer position, Bill worked for the state of NC for thirty-four years, winning numerous awards and recognitions. Bill and Peggy settled down in Raleigh, not far from his sister and mother, raising three boys, Paul, John, and Mark, who were the proud center of Bill’s life.

Bill remained a dedicated NC State sports fan throughout his life, always tuning into the local NCSU basketball or football broadcasts. Bill was forever engaged with numbers, an avid jogger, a serious chess player and lover of worship music. He delighted in visiting the North Carolina mountains, the Grandfather Mountain State Park being one of his favorite destinations. Bill’s Christian faith was incredibly important to his life story. He was devoted to his church community and leaned on his salvation during life’s most difficult moments, with his black leather pocket Bible always close at hand.

Bill is survived by his beloved wife, Peggy Tillman, his cherished three boys and daughters-in-law, Paul and Cindy Tillman, John and Kristen Tillman, and Mark and Sarah Tillman, and his seven adored grandchildren, Arianna, Echo, Liam, Austin, Nova, Lily, and Zephyr. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister.

The family is profoundly grateful to Mark Philbeck, Martie Maynard and Hiwot Jima, Bill’s loyal companions and devoted caregivers. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Samaritans Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.

Visitation will be held at Brown Wynne Funeral Home on Sunday, November 19th from 3 to 5 pm, 1701 E Millbrook Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609. The funeral service will be at Cross Assembly Church (North Raleigh campus) on Monday, November 20th at 11 am, 6561 Meridien Dr, Raleigh, NC 27616.

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