John Howard Tillman
March 18, 1937 — November 27, 2022
John Howard Tillman, 85, went home on Sunday, November 27. A loving husband, dad, and Papaw, John was born March 18, 1937, in Hugo, Oklahoma. John was one of six children. He married his high school sweetheart, Kay Thomas, in 1957; they celebrated 65 years of marriage in August. John and Kay were blessed with three children: Kathy Farris (Jeff), Connie Tillman, and John Paul Tillman (Missy). In addition to his wife and daughters, John is survived by 12 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild, brother, Raymond Douglas Tillman, and sister, Wanda Jo Sherman. In addition to three siblings, he was pre-deceased by his son and two great grandsons.
After college, before beginning his career in retail, John worked as a firefighter. His long, distinguished career with WalMart began in 1967 as assistant manager in Fayetteville. Within six months, he was manager of the Conway WalMart; he retired as a regional vice president in 1987.
John lived life “out loud,” and he loved his family. He loved to fish and hunt, play cards, crack jokes, and tell stories. His grandchildren each have special memories from times that John spent with them.
John was a member of the baseball team at Cameron College in Lawton OK, a “Cinderella team” that won the championship. In 2021 John and other members of the 1958 team were inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.
Giving and generous, John visited individuals in local nursing homes for many years. John had a servant’s heart, and he often helped friends and strangers. He taught Sunday School at Second Baptist Conway, AWANAS at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Guy, and young men at The Other Side in Wilburn. He served Second Baptist and Mount Olive as a deacon. He was on the Board of Directors of Lifeword for several years.
A celebration of John’s life will be held on Saturday, December 3 at 11:30 a.m. at Mount Olive Baptist Church, 448 Hwy 25N in Guy, AR.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts in John’s honor to Soul Food Café Mission (1717 South Donaghey Conway AR 72034) or The Other Side Ministry (4744 Wilburn Road, Wilburn AR 72179).
After college, before beginning his career in retail, John worked as a firefighter. His long, distinguished career with WalMart began in 1967 as assistant manager in Fayetteville. Within six months, he was manager of the Conway WalMart; he retired as a regional vice president in 1987.
John lived life “out loud,” and he loved his family. He loved to fish and hunt, play cards, crack jokes, and tell stories. His grandchildren each have special memories from times that John spent with them.
John was a member of the baseball team at Cameron College in Lawton OK, a “Cinderella team” that won the championship. In 2021 John and other members of the 1958 team were inducted into the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.
Giving and generous, John visited individuals in local nursing homes for many years. John had a servant’s heart, and he often helped friends and strangers. He taught Sunday School at Second Baptist Conway, AWANAS at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Guy, and young men at The Other Side in Wilburn. He served Second Baptist and Mount Olive as a deacon. He was on the Board of Directors of Lifeword for several years.
A celebration of John’s life will be held on Saturday, December 3 at 11:30 a.m. at Mount Olive Baptist Church, 448 Hwy 25N in Guy, AR.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts in John’s honor to Soul Food Café Mission (1717 South Donaghey Conway AR 72034) or The Other Side Ministry (4744 Wilburn Road, Wilburn AR 72179).
To send flowers to the family in memory of John Howard Tillman, please visit our flower store.