PARIS — Wayne Tilley, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1957, was named Veteran of the Month at the Maine Veterans’ Home.
Tilley was born on March 12, 1934, in Harrison, and grew up in Norway. He has two brothers, Barry and David. Tilley graduated from Norway High School in 1952.
In July 1953 he enlisted in the Navy, earning the rank See Bee 2nd Class and the National Defense Medal. In July 1957 he was honorably discharged. While he was in the Navy Tilley’s duties were in the construction area, building factories and repairing and building homes for residents of the Philippines. He also helped build the longest air strip on the coast.
Tilley said one of his fondest memories occurred when he was working with some of the men in his unit and they got the work truck stuck in the mud. He said they tried to get it out with another work truck and ending up getting both of them stuck. Their boss told them to go get “Tilley,” he can get it out, and he did.
Tilley married Beverly Corbett after leaving the service and they had three children and took in two other children to raise as their own. They have three grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Tilley had worked at a factory for about a year before joining the Navy and after the service he worked for Goodwin’s Dairy in South Paris, delivering milk for three to four years, then worked for the Poland School Department maintenance department, cleaning for four years.
Tilley went to the Maine Veterans’ Home in 2016 and met an old friend. They visit and go on some of the outings together. He likes to feed the birds and visit with the other residents.
Wayne Tilley
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