James Ogden Tilton
James Ogden Tilton passed away Monday September 23, 2024, a week after a motorized vehicle accident near his home in Apalachin, New York. He was 78.
James was born in Conneaut, Ohio on June 13, 1946 to Wesley Ewing Tilton and Julia Elizabeth Ogden Tilton. He grew up in North Lima, Ohio, a small farming community in northeastern Ohio. After graduating from North Lima High School, he attended the DeVry Electronics School in Chicago, Illinois and began working for the Zenith Corporation. After several murders near his rooming house, his parents successfully fetched him home to North Lima in a car that kept boiling over! He began working for Nobil Shoes in Salem, Ohio and advanced quickly to be the manager of the store in Canton, Ohio, and then to District Manager in Athens, Ohio.
While in Athens he met Marlenna Kay Smith and they were married October 17, 1967 in Pearisburg, Virginia. Their son, James Edward, was born in Athens, Ohio on May 18, 1968. James continued to thrive as a district manager and was promoted to a larger district in Fremont, Ohio, and then Traverse City, Michigan. James loved driving snowmobiles in northern Michigan.
Endicott-Johnson bought Nobil Shoes and offered James an even bigger district in St. Louis Mo. He declined so that their son Jimmy could remain in the St. Joseph School System. After Jimmy graduated, Endicott-Johnson relocated them to Binghamton, New York. Eventually Endicott-Johnson was bought by an English firm, and James and Kay decided to strike out on their own. In 1988 they opened up Draperies on Wheels in Apalachin, N.Y. Kay was an excellent saleswoman, and James handled the installations and kept the books. Son Jimmy joined the business when he completed his service in the U.S. Air Force.
James and Kay spent many winters in Key West, Florida, traveling in their home away from home, their beloved RV. Everyone found James a joy to be around. He was a consummate caregiver and cared for his mother in his home for the last six years of her life, as well as his wife as she battled lung cancer. His neighbors knew they could count on him to always help out in any way he could, even without being asked. If somebody needed something, he was there. His calm friendly nature and willingness to help out will be missed by many. Surely Jesus was referring to James when He said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40 CSB)
He is survived by his son James Edward Tilton, of Johnson City N.Y.; his grandson James Ogden Tilton and his wife Michelle of Chester, VA; his great grandson Wesley William Tilton; his two sisters Julie Ann Tilton of Woodbridge, VA; and Carol Ann Tilton Bauman of Parker, CO; and many nieces and nephews.
He is predeceased by his wife Marlenna Kay Tilton on April 2, 2018; his parents Wesley Ewing Tilton on July 14, 2001 and Julia Elizbeth Ogden Tilton on January 25, 2014; and his older brother David Wesley Tilton on May 21, 2024.
Interment will be October 7, 2024, 11:30 a.m., at the Vinton Memorial Cemetery located east of Ohio State Route 160 at the intersection with Wooldridge Road, Township Road 767, in Vinton Ohio. Arrangements are being handled by the McCoy-Moore Funeral Home, 208 Main St., Vinton, Ohio 45686.
In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the COPD Foundation at https://www.copdfoundation.org/Ways-to-Give/Donate/Tribute-Giving.aspx.
This memorial was lovingly written by James Ogden Tilton’s Family for the McCoy-Moore Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be sent to www.mccoymoore.com
