Obituary of Robert James Lilley

Robert J. Lilley, loving Husband, Father, and Pop-pop passed away suddenly on April 23, 2022, at the Pocono Regional Medical Center.  

Robert was born in Texas in 1948 and due to his father’s career spent most of his childhood in Mountain Lakes NJ, where he graduated from Mountain Lakes High School in 1967. He then attended La Grange college in La Grange, Georgia. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, which he served Honorably for 7 years. During those years he served one tour in Vietnam, which then lead to an attachment to NATO Head Quarters in Turkey. Robert then was later stationed at the pentagon with the Satellite Communications Command.  Robert received numerous awards such as good conduct medal, Army Achievement Medal and Army accommodation medal. After being discharged, he then lived and started his own printing business in Germany. Upon return to the United States he worked for NJ Transit, which he eventually retired as the Manager of the Print and Graphics department.

He loved music, reading, and was an amateur photographer. He truly was a renaissance man, with his interests including Philosophy, fiber arts, both spinning and weaving, and dabbled in watch repair. He was known for his wicked sense of humor, and fully immersible story telling skills.

He is survived by his wife Janice Lilley, of Belvidere, NJ; his son Walter Lilley of Woodbridge, NJ; stepchildren, Susan Phelan (Richard) of Summit, NJ, James Westervelt of Colorado Springs, CO and Timothy Westervelt (Jeanmarie) of Rutherford, NJ. He was Pop-pop to Nora, Cormack, and Benjamin.  He also leaves behind sisters Louise Robertson (Eldon) of Richmond, VA and Kathryn Tensen (Nicholas) of Hamilton, MA. Robert was a man of great wisdom, character, and adventure, for which he will always be remembered. FBR

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the United States Veterans’ Artists Alliance (usvaa.com).