Edward "Ed" John Tiller

EDWARD JOHN MARION TILLER of Pensacola passed away in Pensacola, at West Florida Hospital, on July 13, 2016, from nothing other than old age. He went peacefully and painlessly, at 96 years old. He was preceded in death by the wife he adored and with whom he shared 56 years of marriage, Ruth Allan Tiller, who passed away in 2005. He is survived by all four of their children, Rebecca Ruth Luecht and husband Roland of Gulf Breeze, Edward Allan Tiller of Houston, Texas, John Howell Tiller of Pensacola, and Marion Jeanette Yetman and husband Warren of Pensacola, and grandchildren Lara (and Jesse), Rachel, Amanda, Blake (and Samantha), and Chase (and Danielle) and great-granddaughters Clarissa and Samantha (Lara's).

Our father's life was a reflection of the history of northwest Florida since the early 20th century. Born in St. Andrews, now a part of Panama City, his father was a prominent turpentiner and landowner before the Depression. Raised both in Panama City and the piney woods of the panhandle, he lived through the Depression, observed the coming of electricity and paved highways, attended high school in Vernon and Bay High in Panama City (where he met Ruth), and spent three years in Europe with the 5th Army during the war. After the war he was one of the first male students at what would become Florida State University and graduated from the University of Florida in forestry. He married Ruth on New Year's Eve of 1949. He never really retired, although late in life he moved from forestry to real estate sales, retaining his agent license until his death. Through his 95th year, he was still driving thousands of miles every month.

His greatest legacy, though, was his family. He was much loved and will be much missed by both his immediate family and his large extended family, on both the Tiller and the Allan sides. His church home and family for the past 45 years was St. Mark United Methodist Church on 12th Avenue in Pensacola.

A visitation will be held at Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel Sunday, July 17, 2016 from 12:30 - 1:30 pm with a funeral service to follow located at 3351 Scenic Highway, Pensacola, FL 32503. The interment will follow at Bayview Memorial Park. Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.