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Ed Tillirson, 59, had passion for Corvettes
By HOLLY CRENSHAW
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/09/05
By HOLLY CRENSHAW
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 03/09/05
No one had to guess what the grand passion of Ed Tillirson's life was. He shouted out his devotion to the classic American
muscle car, the Corvette, from every corner of his house — packed with model cars, magazines, collectible toys and
memorabilia.
"If there was anything that had a Corvette on it, he had it," said his brother, Dan Tillirson of Rex. "He even had a Corvette pedal
car in his back yard that he planted flowers in."
muscle car, the Corvette, from every corner of his house — packed with model cars, magazines, collectible toys and
memorabilia.
"If there was anything that had a Corvette on it, he had it," said his brother, Dan Tillirson of Rex. "He even had a Corvette pedal
car in his back yard that he planted flowers in."
But the other part of Ed is that his love of Corvettes extended to the people who drove them.
He had so many great friends, and those friendships grew out of love for a car."
Eddie R. Tillirson, 59, of Jonesboro died Friday of liver failure at Portsbridge Hospice in
Riverdale. The body was cremated. The memorial service is 11 a.m. today at Carl J. Mowell
& Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville.
Smitten with cars since childhood, the Atlanta native got his first Corvette, a 1962
convertible, in the mid-'60s. His last one was an immaculate white 1974 convertible,
patriotically decorated with red and blue stripes and white stars.
Among the others he owned over the years, his favorites were a 1962 maroon roadster and
a '66 coupe, said his friend Ben Jenkins of Jonesboro.
"He was a little boy that never grew up, and that's what endeared him to me," Mr. Jenkins
said. "He still loved old black-and-white Westerns and '50s sitcoms and '60s music and
custom cars and Corvettes."
Mr. Tillirson was a route salesman for a beer company for 18 years before landing a job as
assistant editor of Vette Vues Magazine, a guide to all things Corvette.
He had so many great friends, and those friendships grew out of love for a car."
Eddie R. Tillirson, 59, of Jonesboro died Friday of liver failure at Portsbridge Hospice in
Riverdale. The body was cremated. The memorial service is 11 a.m. today at Carl J. Mowell
& Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville.
Smitten with cars since childhood, the Atlanta native got his first Corvette, a 1962
convertible, in the mid-'60s. His last one was an immaculate white 1974 convertible,
patriotically decorated with red and blue stripes and white stars.
Among the others he owned over the years, his favorites were a 1962 maroon roadster and
a '66 coupe, said his friend Ben Jenkins of Jonesboro.
"He was a little boy that never grew up, and that's what endeared him to me," Mr. Jenkins
said. "He still loved old black-and-white Westerns and '50s sitcoms and '60s music and
custom cars and Corvettes."
Mr. Tillirson was a route salesman for a beer company for 18 years before landing a job as
assistant editor of Vette Vues Magazine, a guide to all things Corvette.
Courtesy of Gary Wellborn
Ed Tillirson could frequently be
seen in a Corvette, such as this
1974 convertible, with his Jack
Russell terrier, Alice.
seen in a Corvette, such as this
1974 convertible, with his Jack
Russell terrier, Alice.
In 1979, he founded the Peach State Corvette Association and was its president so many times the members lost track. He
bought and sold memorabilia at car shows, helped potential Corvette buyers select the right car, and appraised vintage
Corvettes for insurers.
"He was one of those rare individuals who had a career that he left and managed to find a lifestyle that most people fantasize
about," said Dan Tillirson. "He was willing to just roll the dice and follow his dream to travel and see and do all kinds of things,
and for him, it became real."
Mr. Tillirson was a soft touch when it came to stray animals, feeding any dog or cat that wandered to his door and helping get as
many spayed and neutered as he could. His passenger seat was usually occupied by Alice, a Jack Russell terrier he took in.
"They became best friends, and everywhere you saw Ed, you saw Alice," said his friend Gary Wellborn of Palmetto. "He had a
baby seat in the front of his convertible with her name across the top, and he would strap her in, and she would ride with him,
and the two of them would just have a blast."
Survivors include his father, Joseph E. Tillirson of Jonesboro; and another brother, Joseph E. Tillirson Jr. of Rockmart.
bought and sold memorabilia at car shows, helped potential Corvette buyers select the right car, and appraised vintage
Corvettes for insurers.
"He was one of those rare individuals who had a career that he left and managed to find a lifestyle that most people fantasize
about," said Dan Tillirson. "He was willing to just roll the dice and follow his dream to travel and see and do all kinds of things,
and for him, it became real."
Mr. Tillirson was a soft touch when it came to stray animals, feeding any dog or cat that wandered to his door and helping get as
many spayed and neutered as he could. His passenger seat was usually occupied by Alice, a Jack Russell terrier he took in.
"They became best friends, and everywhere you saw Ed, you saw Alice," said his friend Gary Wellborn of Palmetto. "He had a
baby seat in the front of his convertible with her name across the top, and he would strap her in, and she would ride with him,
and the two of them would just have a blast."
Survivors include his father, Joseph E. Tillirson of Jonesboro; and another brother, Joseph E. Tillirson Jr. of Rockmart.