Joseph Francis Tilton,

Joseph Francis Tilton, Jr., 86, of Savannah, Georgia, and widower of Fredzella 'Freddie' Hodges Tilton, died Saturday afternoon, August 12, 2017, at Hospice Savannah surrounded by his family.



Born in Savannah, Georgia, he was a son of the late Joseph Francis Tilton, Sr. and the late Mary McCarthy Tilton. Mr. Tilton graduated from Benedictine Military School Class of 1948 and Armstrong College. He was a United States Navy veteran. Mr. Tilton was a longtime communicant of Nativity of our Lord Catholic Church and St. Peter the Apostle Church. He retired from Southern States Phosphate Fertilizer Co after over 35 years of service. Mr. Tilton was the first football coach of Nativity School, was an avid Georgia Bulldog fan who had attended games since the Wally Butts years, and attended many Masters Golf Tournaments. He enjoyed crabbing, shrimping, and fishing on the south end of Wilmington Island where he was born and raised. Mr. Tilton enjoyed many family vacations in his Winnebago. He was a member of Fenian Society, St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee, Georgia Bulldog Motorcoach Club, and Knights of Columbus Council 631. Joe Joe, as he was known by his family and friends, was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.



In addition to his wife and sweetheart of almost 64 years and his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Joseph 'Bubba' Francis Tilton III.



Survived are his daughter, Jan Tilton Brown and her husband, Frank; his son, Steven Craig Tilton and his wife, Beth; his grandchildren, Christopher Alan Brown (Logan Moody), Suzanne Brown Moseley (Andrew), Kathryn Brown Moore (Steven), Joseph (Joey) Francis Tilton IV, Jacqueline (Jacky) Nicole Tilton, Steven Joseph Tilton and Mattie Elizabeth Tilton; his great-grandson, Wesley Alan Moore; his aunt, Elizabeth Tilton Kennedy; several nieces and nephews, and a special friend, Jannelle Brown.



The family will receive friends from 5 until 6:30 Wednesday at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church with the Christian Wake Service being held at 6:30 o'clock.



The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 o'clock Thursday morning in St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church conducted by The Reverend Patrick S. O'Brien and The Reverend Frank Ziemkiewicz, O.S.B. Interment will be in the Greenwich Section of Bonaventure Cemetery.



Remembrances: Benedictine Military School - 6502 Seawright Drive, Savannah, Georgia 31406 or to St. Vincent's Academy ' 207 East Liberty Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401.