He met the love of his life Jane Katherine Livingston on a visit to Tabor Drugs in Louisville, MS in 1960, and the two married on March 31, 1961. They built a strong marriage through faith in Christ and devotion to each other that lasted over 55 years. They made their first home in Louisville, MS, where they welcomed a daughter, Vickie Lynn, a few years later. After her birth they moved to Jackson where Tilton began his career as a crane operator for Bracken Construction Company and a son, Richard Warren, was born not long thereafter. After spending several years in Jackson the couple returned home to the Patterson Farm in Nanih Waiya, building their permanent home there in 1975.
Tilton’s career as a crane operator spanned over 40 years. He was a talented, respected and highly sought after operator who loved each moment he spent in a crane or any other piece of equipment on a construction site. He worked all over the United States, primarily the southeast, on numerous major construction projects, operating the smallest to the largest of cranes. He operated a tower crane during construction of the Golden Moon Hotel, prompting many to refer to him as “The man who hung the moon”. He formed many lasting friendships during his career and always enjoyed reminiscing with old friends after his retirement.
He and Jane loved to spend time working in their yard, garden and orchard each summer. There were always fresh vegetables and fruits on their table and to be shared with friends and neighbors. Tilton was a lifelong cattle farmer, maintaining a herd throughout his career and into retirement. He was never one to sit around and could always be found on the farm working on something year round, whether rolling hay, building fence, picking up pecans, cutting thistles, or doing anything to improve the farm. His hobby was work and he lived life to the fullest each day, and he was a true friend to countless people he knew. He was a member of Good Hope Baptist Church where he served on numerous committees.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Alma Patterson and sisters, Catherine Bracken and Mary Alice Robertson.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jane Livingston Patterson of the home; a daughter, Vickie Lynn Patterson of Kingsport, TN; a son Richard Warren (Ricky) Patterson of Nanih Waiya, MS; a brother, James Henry (Martha) Patterson of Philadelphia, MS and a sister Christine Daniels of Nanih Waiya, MS.
Services will be held at 10 am on Friday, April 22, 2016 at Good Hope Baptist Church with burial to follow at Hailey-Richey Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-8 pm on Thursday, at Porter Funeral Home. Bro. Sammy McMillen, Bro. Jr. Davis and Bro. Jason Gross will conduct the services. Serving as Pallbearers will be Sherlon Patterson, Mike Robertson, Ronnie Vandevender, Bill Newton, Chris Newton and David Starnes. Honorary Pallbearers will be Shane Patterson, Patrick Patterson, Travis Creel, Allen Hailey, Chris Moody, Tate Hanna, Ray Taylor, Paul Starnes, Buddy Fulton, Punk Vandevender, Dallas Mills and the members of his Sunday School class.
Memorials may be made to the Hailey-Richey Cemetery Fund (2681 South County Line Road, Preston, MS) or the Good Hope Cemetery Fund (12956 Hwy 490, Louisville, MS).
