Lyle G. Tilden Oct. 29, 1922-July 8, 2013

Lyle G. Tilden passed away July 8, 2013 in Hermiston at age 90.

He was born Oct. 29, 1922 in Hermiston to Mildred Percy Tilden and Llyle Delman Tilden.

Lyle lived with his aunt and uncle, Emerald and Lessie Tilden, while attending Hermiston High School. He enjoyed playing saxophone in the band and developed a talent for tinkering with all kinds of machinery, including the 1927 Model T that he bought with money he made milking his cow. Shortly after graduating, Lyle joined the Navy, and served aboard PC-1170 in the South Pacific. His ship was fired on during the allied assault on Iwo Jima and the vessel sustained significant damage and several casualties. After the war, he joined the Coast Guard where he served until retiring in 1970.

Lyle met his wife, Fern, in Juneau, Alaska where they were married in 1952. Lyle’s Coast Guard career moved the family to Alaska, New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, Bangkok, and Astoria. Lyle and Fern had a son and three daughters, each born in a different state. The family had many adventures driving from coast to coast that were often memorialized in stories that Lyle would retell to the family’s delight.

In 1975, the family returned to Hermiston. Lyle was a biomedical engineer at St. Anthony’s hospital in Pendleton for several years.

Lyle had a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ that was the defining factor in his life from his teen-age years on. Lyle was active in every church the family attended over the years, including serving as a deacon in the Umatilla Baptist Church for many years. He has influenced and mentored many young men over his years as a disciple of Jesus. Lyle was a faithful caregiver to his wife during her long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Lyle enjoyed traveling, reading, and photography.

He is survived by his son, Mark Tilden; daughters, Nancy Sarpola, Brenda Knight and Sharon Lawler; 10 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; as well as his sister, Patt LaMonica. Lyle has been reunited with Fern in the presence of his creator and Lord.

A celebration of Lyle’s life will be held at Umatilla Baptist Church on Monday, July 22 at noon. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Umatilla Baptist Church, 146 Columbia Street, P.O. Box 207, Umatilla, Ore., 97882 or Children of the Nations, P.O. Box 3970, Silverdale, Wash., 98383.

Please sign the condolence book at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.

Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.