James Dean Tilford, Jr.

Born 15 January 1921, Boston, Massachusetts
Died 1 January 2000, Mobile, Alabama
Major, United States Air Force
Residence: Semmes, Alabama
Section 2, Grave 1172-2
Buried 12 January 2000

Emily Jane Meyer Tilford

Born 15 February 1924
Died 15 January 1997
U.S. Marine Corps, Private
Residence: Mobile, Alabama
Section 2, Grave 1172-2
Buried 10 February 1997

NOTE: Served as a Forward Air Controller in World War II. He then worked for National Airlines before starting his own company.

The Palm Beach Post
Tuesday, January 4, 2000

AVIATION BOOSTER JAMES D. TILFORD, JR. DIES AT 78

James D. Tilford Jr., who owned and operated Tilford Flying Service at Palm Beach International Airport for many years, died Saturday. He was 78.

Mr. Tilford died of pneumonia in Mobile, Alabama, where he had moved about five years ago.

Mr. Tilford liked to describe himself as a “self-made man” who flunked out of Princeton University after 1 1/2 years.

Before giving up flying in 1985, he had logged more than 10,000 hours in airplanes and made 50 cross-country trips in small aircraft.

FORMER FLORIDA FBO OWNER AND
GENERAL AVIATION SUPPORTER DIES

James Dean Tilford, founder and owner of Tilford Flying Service located at West Palm Beach Airport from the late 1950s to the early 1980s before it was sold, died in his sleep on January l, 2000, in Mobile, Alabama, after a brief illness. He would have been 79 on January 15th.

Tilford Flying Service was known as the “Gateway to the Bahamas” and served as
the FBO host to many celebrities and dignitaries arriving in south Florida. Actor and pilot Cliff Robertson once said that he would fly miles out of his way just to see that welcoming Tilford smile on landing and experience his true southern hospitality.

Mr. Tilford touched many with his love of flying and faith in general aviation’s future.

He leaves behind two sons, a daughter and four grandchildren, plus many, many friends and admirers. He will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cementary on January 12, 2000, at 3pm.

NOTE: His wife, Emily Jane Tilford, his father, Colonel James Dean Tilford, Sr.,and his grandfather, Brigadier General Joseph Green Tilford, are all buried nearby in Section 2, Grave 1205.

TILFORD, EMILY JANE

DATE OF BIRTH: 02/15/1924
DATE OF DEATH: 01/15/1997
DATE OF INTERMENT: 02/10/1997
BURIED AT: SECTION 2 SITE 1172-2

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
WIFE OF TILFORD, JAMES DEAN JR MAJ US AIR FORCE

TILFORD, JAMES DEAN JR
MAJ US AIR FORCE

VETERAN SERVICE DATES: 08/21/1943 – 06/01/1961
DATE OF BIRTH: 01/15/1921
DATE OF DEATH: 01/01/2000
DATE OF INTERMENT: 01/12/2000
BURIED AT: SECTION 2 SITE 1172-2

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

James Dean Tilford, United States Army Air Forces, Early In World War II

James Dean Tilford, Jr. Portrait In Civilian Life

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Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard

James Dean Tilford, Jr. – Major, United States Air Force

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