Douglas Selmer Tilley

Douglas Selmer Tilley, 93, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at the Kutz Senior Living Facility in Wilmington, Delaware.  Born in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania on November 18, 1931, he was the son of the late Chalmers and Marian (O’Neill) Tilley.  Doug attended Kennett High School, graduating in 1950.  A prominent athlete, he is an inductee into the Kennett High School Hall of Fame.  Following high school, Doug attended Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland on an athletic scholarship.  While there, Doug earned 4 varsity letters in soccer, 3 varsity letters in basketball, and 3 varsity letters in baseball.  He captained both the soccer and baseball teams, earning multiple all-Conference honors in each sport.  During his senior year, Doug was the president of the varsity sports club and the recipient of The Simpers Medal – awarded to the school’s best all-around athlete.  Doug had the honor of being inducted into the Washington College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1988.

While at Washington College, Doug met the love of his life, Joan Marie McCardle.  They were married in Wilmington in 1954 and on January 30, they celebrated 71 years of marriage.  Following his college graduation, Doug served in the United States Army at Fort Hood, Texas for 2 years, earning an honorable discharge in February 1957.  Upon completion of his service, Doug began a long career as an accounting and financial analyst, primarily with DuPont, from whom he retired in 1995.

Doug and Joan were longtime residents of Delaware, residing in the Wilmington and Hockessin areas until they retired and moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 1996.  There Doug taught himself how to play golf and ultimately made two hole-in-ones!  After 7 years, Doug and Joan moved to The Villages, Florida where they remained until they returned to Delaware in 2017.  In addition to golf, Doug had a love for all Philadelphia sports teams (Go Eagles!) and for Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida where he and Joan visited countless times.

In addition to his wife of 71 years, Doug is survived by his sons, Douglas Tilley and wife, Cinde, Joseph Tilley and wife, Karen; his grandchildren, Christopher Tilley and wife, Ashley, Ryan Tilley and wife, Megan, Jessica Tilley, Alex Tilley, Sara Benami and husband, David; his granddaughter-in-law, Sarah Tilley; 2 great-grandchildren, Lucy and Wesley Tilley; his older brother, Howard Tilley.

Doug was sadly predeceased by his grandson, Michael Tilley and his granddaughter-in-law, Michal Tilley, wife of Alex.

Family and friends are invited to visit at the Doherty Funeral Home, 3200 Limestone Road, Pike Creek on Friday, February 21 from 11:00AM - 12:00PM.  Funeral Services will begin at 12:00PM, immediately followed by interment at All Saints Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Doug may be made to the Mike Tilley Nation Foundation by visiting their website at www.miketilleynation.org (an organization in honor of his grandson to raise awareness of young onset colorectal cancer).

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