DOVER - Cornelius Alfred Tilghman, Jr. "Neal" passed away Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019 at Kent General Hospital.
Neal was born in Beaver Falls, Pa. to the late Cornelius A. Tilghman, Sr. and Mary Louise Mayer Tilghman, but lived most of his life in Delaware. Neal graduated from John Bassett Moore High School in Smyrna and went on to receive a bachelor's degree in Physics from Washington College, Md. in 1953 and a master's degree in Computer Science from Texas A&M, Texas in 1965.
He served 20 years in the United States Air Force retiring with the rank of Major. During that time, he flew as an aircrew navigator with the 48th Air Rescue Squadron which included support for the early stages of Project Mercury. This entailed being at the landing site of the first "shot" with astronaut Alan Shepard. Neal was stationed in Florida, Texas, France, England, Germany, Thailand and ended his Air Force experience at Scott AFB, Ill. in the field of computers. After retiring from the Air Force in 1974 Neal moved back to Delaware and worked for the Delaware State Police for 9 years, then 6 years with the Delaware Criminal Justice Information System as their 1st Executive Director.
Neal loved trains (both full size and model), spending time at the beach with his family, traveling and music - especially traditional jazz. He developed his own CD label, Noteworthy Jazz and produced 7 CD's in order to promote jazz and various artists.
Neal is survived by Marie C. Shultie of Felton, his companion who traveled through life with him for almost 45 years; his children, Cornelius A. Tilghman, III "Kit" and his wife Jane of Havre de Grace, Md. and daughter, Mary-Louise G. Tilghman her husband Dietmar of Eschborn, Germany; grandchildren, Tyler Tilghman, Virginia Tilghman, Margo Dietl, Carlie Tilghman and Fiona Tilghman; his brother, Blaine Tilghman and his wife Billie of Elkton, MD.
Funeral services will be held 2 P.M., Friday, Sept. 27, 2019 at Torbert Funeral Chapel, 1145 E. Lebanon Road (Rt.10), Dover. Friends may call from 12 ~ 2 PM. The burial will be private at a later date.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made to either Home of the Brave Foundation, 6632 Sharpe Road, Milford, DE 19963 at www.homeofthebravefdn.org, or a charity of your choice.
Letters of condolences may be sent and guest book signed at www.torbertfuneral.com