By Staff
William C. Gilfillan, 70, of Chocowinity, NC, a retired mechanical engineer, died on September 6th at a Hospice center in Greenville, NC. He died of lung cancer.
Mr. Gilfillan resided for most of his adult life in Hopatcong, NJ, prior to his retirement and relocation to North Carolina. His professional accomplishments included serving as Vice President of manufacturing for Moretrench American Corporation (Rockaway, NJ), founding and becoming president of Giltech, Inc., which designed, manufactured, obtained patents for, and implemented the usage of the (Hydro Vac) trademarked construction-dewatering equipment. As an avid outdoorsman, Mr. Gilfillan had a great respect for wildlife and nature. He loved fishing of all types but had a special fondness for fly fishing for trout, often using barbless hooks. He also enjoyed deer and turkey hunting, pastimes he shared with close friends and family. Mr. Gilfillan was born in New Bethlehem, PA, to Byron T. and Lois M. Gilfillan. He graduated from Redbank Valley High School and received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA), which he attended on a partial football scholarship. He served in the US Army during the late 1960s. Mr. Gilfillan is survived by his wife of 19 years Ruth Gilfillan, son, Sam Gilfillan, of New Hope, PA, daughter, Molly Opferman, of Memphis, TN, his mother, Lois Gilfillan, of Kensington, MD, (formerly of Warren, PA), sister, Ellen Gilfillan Garrison, of Chevy Chase, MD, step-daughter, Wendy Wunder, of Boston, MA, and step-son, John Wunder, of Charlotte, NC. He is also survived by two grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.
A wake will be held at Paul Funeral Home (Washington, NC) on September 9, 2010 from 6 p.m. through 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church (Washington, NC) September 10, 2010 at 11 a.m. An interment service will be held at the Rimersburg cemetery, Route 68 / Main St. Rimersburg, PA. September 13, 2010 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of William C. Gilfillan to United Health Systems Service – In-patient Hospice, c/o PCMH Foundation, PO Box 8489 Greenville, NC. 27835 or to the American Cancer Society for lung cancer research via: https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate/donateonlinenow/index
Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.
Paul Funeral Home of Washington is honored to serve the Gilfillan family.
Paid Obituary