PORTLAND — LCDR Donald O. Tilton, USCG Ret., 85, of Portland, died Friday, Dec. 7, at his home.

Mr. Tilton was born Sept. 16, 1927, in White Lake, S.D., a son of Otto A. and Sylvia A. Tilton and attended schools there and in California. A veteran of World War II, he joined the U.S. Merchant Marine at age 16 and sailed as an able body seaman, unable to join the regular service at that time due to his age. At the end of WWII, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was a participant at Bikini Atoll Atomic Bomb Crossroads Shot on July 1, 1946. In May 1948, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard.

During his career, Mr. Tilton received the Pacific War Zone Bar, WWII Victory Medal, U.S. Coast Guard Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Command at Sea Insignia, Coast Guard Cutter Man Insignia as well as many letters of achievement form the U.S. Merchant Marine, U.S. Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Early in his Coast Guard career as a chief boatswain mate, Mr. Tilton was stationed at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. While there he was responsible for waterfront maintenance and all the sailboats for the cadets and served as a sailing instructor. Upon his promotion to warrant officer, he became commanding officer of the USCGC Yankton stationed at the Coast Guard Base in South Portland. The Yankton was involved in many search and rescue operations from Maine to Cape Cod. As a chief warrant officer, he was assigned the duties as operations officer at Group South Portland and Group Boston. Upon appointment as a lieutenant commander, he was assigned as the executive officer Port Safety Station and alternate captain of the Port, Boston, Mass., before his retirement in 1975.

Mr. Tilton was a lifetime member of the national chapter of the Retired Officer Association, a member of the National U.S. Coast Guard Chief Warrant Association, Local Chief Warrant Club, a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 832 of South Portland, a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans Association and a lifetime member of the American Legion. He was also a member of the National Association of Radiation Survivors and the AARP.

As a civilian, Mr. Tilton was president of Tilton Company Inc. Security and Maintenance Contractor. He dissolved his company due to health reasons. He was then employed by Seventy Five State as director of Engineering for 13 years. In 1988, he was selected as employee of the year. He received an Award of Merit from the State of Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation in 1988 and many other recognitions and thanks from the Portland Regional Vocational Technical schools and Cumberland County Training Center. He enjoyed working with young people, especially those with disabilities.

Mr. Tilton and his wife enjoyed trips in their motor home to Florida, Arizona, and California. During his military and civilian life they had traveled through or stayed in 48 of the 50 states. He also enjoyed computers, wood and metal working and working on his vehicles and boats.

Surviving are four sons, Blaise A. of Lewiston, Michael D. of Gorham, Craig M. of Virginia, and Keith A. of Lewiston; a brother, Jerry M. and his wife, Tita, of Orangeville, Calif.; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Predeceasing Mr. Tilton was his loving wife, Gilda A. (Fields) Tilton.