Paul Arthur Tilson

Paul Arthur Tilson, age 83 of Maryville, entered Heaven on September 15, 2023, having succumbed to the injuries he suffered on August 3 when, while out for a peaceful evening drive with his wife of two years, Janie Melton Tilson, they were hit head-on on Old Knoxville Highway by a driver who crossed the center line traveling at a high rate of speed. Paul was a proud 1958 graduate of Everett High School where he was a stand-out athlete in both football and basketball. He went to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville on a full football scholarship and played tackle both ways in the days of ironman football. He was the team captain in 1961-1962.  Paul talked often about how the friends he made from his playing days in both high school and college were the best thing about his athletic career. For his family, his story telling ability and the many stories he told of his playing days, including the one about the fight he started in the UT vs. Old Miss game, were the highlights of family gatherings. Paul graduated from UT in 1963 with a degree in statistics and was recruited to begin a career as a computer programmer in the days when the first computers filled entire rooms. He spent most of his career at Oak Ridge National Laboratory programming and maintaining a system that tracked critical incidents for the U.S. military. Paul and Mary Irwin Tilson were married in 1964. When daughter, Tammy, and son, Chad, came along, they devoted all their time and energy to being loving, involved parents. Their favorite pastime was watching their kids at the ballpark. They attended Mt. Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church and enjoyed the many wonderful friendships with their church family, especially enjoying the close relationships with the families of Mel and Melba Harmon, Randall and Linda Pierce, Gordon and Linda Collins, Mike and Linda Dalton, and Lamar and Martha Clayton.

Paul is preceded in death by Mary who died in 2019 after 55 wonderful years of marriage, his parents Davie and Louie Tilson, his special aunt Annie Hitson, his in-laws Silas and Willah Irwin, his brother Clifford Tilson, nephew Mark Tilson, brothers-in-law Hugh Hensley, Floyd Summey, Warren Arnold, and Jim Alexander, and sister-in-law Faye Rule. He was also preceded in death by his special best friends from his playing days at UT, Buddy Fisher and Bob Zvolerin. Oh, what a team that is assembled in Heaven now!

Paul leaves to mourn him his wife of 2 years, Janie Melton Tilson, and her children Scott Melton, Kenda McCord, Jenica Melton, and Jamala Anderson; his daughter Tammy and husband John “Buck” Hicks, his son Chad and wife Kayti, his grandsons and the pride and joy of his life Connor and Mason Hobby and Silas Tilson, and granddaughter Callie Hicks, sisters Margie Arnold and Mary Ann Summey, brother-in-law J.D. Rule, sisters-in-law Charlotte Tilson and Frankie Hensley,  nephews Steve Alexander, Scott Alexander, Joel Tilson, Mike Summey, Gary Hensley, Steven Hensley, and Daniel Rule, nieces Becki Summey, Sharon Moore, and Gina Feldblum, and their families and many wonderful great nephews and nieces.

When Paul was in the hospital and struggling to understand because of the injuries he suffered to both body and mind, a physical therapist was bragging on him for playing at UT in 1962. He spoke up and told her that 1952 was his most important year because that was the year he was saved and that was the only thing that mattered. Paul loved the Lord and served him faithfully, and we are thankful he’s received his new body in Heaven. He also loved his family, and his grandsons most especially. Whether it was watching Connor ride a horse, or working with Mason on football, or watching Silas play with his toys and marveling at how fast he is growing, his grandsons were his favorite activity.

 Family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 pm Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at Smith Trinity Chapel. The funeral service will follow at 7:00 pm with Rev. Joel Tilson and Rev. Greg Long officiating. Family and friends will assemble for interment at 11:00 am Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at Clark’s Grove Cemetery.