Obituary of Bruce M. Tiller

Bruce M. Tiller Allegany, NY Bruce M. Tiller, 91, of 128 N. 1st St., went home to be with his Heavenly Father on Saturday (January 13, 2024) at Buffalo General Hospital. Born February 7, 1932 in Olean, he was the son of Raymond and Rebecca Mullett Tiller. On May 24, 1952 at the Five Mile Baptist Church in Allegany he married Virginia G. Billings who survives. Bruce was a 1950 graduate of Olean High School and attended St. Bonaventure University. He enlisted in the US Army in 1952 and served with the Signal Corps as a radio instructor in Augusta, GA during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1954. He began his long career in construction working for the former Ek Construction in Olean. He then operated a kitchen store on West State St. selling custom cabinets. For a period of time, he was a member of the Carpenter’s Union Local 66 and worked for Lane Construction as they built the many bridges that are part of today’s Southern Tier Expressway through Olean. He operated Tiller Construction in Olean and began by building houses, until it later grew to commercial construction, state, county, and federal projects where, as its president he was instrumental in the building and remodeling of many Olean landmarks including Cecchi News Agency, Lown’s Printing, Park Place Professional Building, and the Castle Motel to name a few. More regionally he built projects in 6 states, he traveled to many jobs building AMC theaters (he built the theater that was formerly located in the Olean Center Mall), the Bath Fish Hatchery, and innumerable other buildings prior to his retirement in 1994. He stayed active in his trade well past retirement and enjoyed assisting with renovations to his son Aaron’s properties. He also kept a beautiful home and yard well into his retirement and he and his wife enjoyed winter trips to Florida to visit their daughter Tamera and family. He was a member of the Allegany Baptist Church and previously was a member of the Five Mile Baptist Church in Allegany. During his military service he had been a member of the Southside Baptist Church in Augusta, GA. He was a giver to charitable institutions and those in need. He leaves behind his wife Virginia of 72 years; three children Pamela Derx of Allegany, Tamera Montante of Marco Island, FL, and Aaron (Christine Brown) Tiller of Allegany; five grandchildren Adam (Anna Richards) Derx, Amber (Matthew) LeBlanc, Michael P. Montante III, Lauren Montante, and Sydney (Kevin Haschmann) Tiller; one great grandson Kayden LeBlanc, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by five brothers and sisters Sadie Peasley, Maxwell Tiller, Elmo Fish, Florence Cooney, and Betty Dufur. The family will receive friends on Saturday (January 20, 2024) from noon until 2pm at the Allegany Baptist Church, 3236 Maple Ave., Allegany. A service will begin at 2pm in the church. Rev. Mark Chapman, pastor, will officiate. Burial with military honors will be in Five Mile Cemetery, Allegany. Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Allegany Baptist Church, 3236 Maple Ave., Allegany, NY 14706. Arrangements are under the direction of the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean.