Obituaries

January 8, 1934 to January 14, 2018

WINAMAC - Robert L. "Bob" Tilden, 84, of Winamac, passed away at 4 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 14, at Pulaski Health Care Center, Winamac.

He was born Jan. 8, 1934 in Gary, to the late Robert A. and Myrle Mitchell Tilden. He graduated from Hammond High School in 1952 and attended Purdue University Calumet Campus. In his younger years, he worked for his parents at their diner, Kwik-Kee-Snax in Hammond where he met his late wife of 55 years, Esther Irene Tilden. She died Nov. 12, 2017.

Survivors include five children, Judy (Ralph) Williams of Pulaski, Bobby (Valerie) Gilbert of Griffith, Freddy (Kathy) Gilbert of Lake of Four Seasons, David (Wendy) Tilden of Woodbury, MN, and Darcy (Patrick) Grieger, of Hanna; 21 Grandchildren; Many Great Grandchildren; sister, Sharron (Paul) Kleihege of Chicago and brother, John (Elaine) Tilden of Shipshewana; Several Nieces and Nephews; and Special Friends, Bill & Dana Alliss and Bob & Joyce Kellie of Winamac.

He was preceded in death by a son, Larry Gilbert.

Mr. Tilden served in the U.S. Navy on the destroyer USS Frank E. Knox and was very proud to receive a Quilt of Valor in 2017. He was retired from NIPSCO where he had worked as a powerhouse operator. He was a member of the United Steelworkers Union and Winamac First United Methodist Church. He was an avid IU Hoosiers fan. He enjoyed quiet time on the Tippecanoe River and evenings in the yard with his neighbors. 

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 18, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 19, at the First United Methodist Church, Winamac, with Pastor Tom Richards officiating. A graveside service with military honors will be at 3:30 p.m. (ET), Friday, Jan. 19, at Memory Lane Memorial Park in Crown Point.

Memorial donations may be made to Winamac First United Methodist Church or Guardian Angel Hospice or Pulaski Health Care Center or LaPorte County Small Animal Shelter.

Online condolences may be offered in the guestbook at www.frainmortuary.com