Stanley L. Tilko, 88, of Thornley Drive died Sunday at his home.

Born Aug. 11, 1917, in Bridgeville, he was the son of Paul and Pauline Pogozelec Tilko.

He retired in 1979 from the shipping department of Plant 2 at Armco-Butler Works after 33 years.

During World War II, he served in the Navy for four years as a radioman. He also played baseball for the Navy for their teams in Panama and in Samson, N.Y.

He was drafted and signed by the New York Yankees Minor League Team. He also played for a short-time for the St. Louis Browns organization. He was one of the pioneers in organizing the Butler County Little League Baseball Program.

Mr. Tilko was a member of St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church in Center Township. He had been a member of the Butler Knights of Columbus Council 866 and was a life member of VFW Post 249.

He greatly enjoyed the outdoors and loved to golf, hunt and fish.

Surviving are his wife, Catherine Dellich Tilko. They were married Sept. 21, 1946, at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church by Msgr. William Spiegel. Also surviving are five sons and their wives, including Stanley L. Tilko Jr. and his wife, Denise Tilko, John P. and Sandi Tilko, Michael R. and Rachael Tilko and Timothy J. Tilko, all of Butler.

Also surviving are seven grandchildren, Adam, Matthew, Hannah, Sarah, Joshua, Jillian, and Jacob; and numerous nieces and nephews.

An infant daughter, Catherine Lucille Tilko; two brothers; and three sisters preceded him in death.

<B>TILKO </B>— Friends of Stanley L. Tilko, who died Sunday, April 30, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Andrew Roman Catholic Church, 1660 N. Main Street Extension, with the Rev. James Salberg officiating. Burial, with military honors accorded by the Butler VFW Honor Squad, will be at the Calvary Cemetery.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.