Obituary of Lilian Stiffler

Lilian Stiffler, nee Burrows, passed peacefully in her home on the 31st of July, 2018 after a brave struggle against Alzheimer’s disease. She was 85 years old. Lilian was born in Wombwell, Yorkshire, England on November 14th, 1932. The youngest of five children, her parents were the late Victor Edward Burrows and Lilian Wood. Her dad passed away when she was only a baby, succumbing to health complications due to injury during his military service in WWI. Lilian’s mom then moved the family to Blackpool, Lancashire, England where Lilian grew up. Lily was a great student and a hard worker, growing up, like all her sisters, helping her mom run a small business in Blackpool. Her childhood spanned the Depression, WWII and the hard post-war rebuilding years in England. She met all hardships with cheerful optimism and hope. After school, Lilian took secretarial courses and worked as an office assistant at a plumbing supply company in Blackpool. She met her American husband Thomas P. Stiffler in 1952 and they married in 1953. Tom was in the U.S. Air Force. Lilian then became a military wife and homemaker. Lilian became a proud U.S. citizen in 1955. She raised her family throughout Tom’s numerous duty stations in many different parts of Europe and the United States. Following retirement from the Air Force, the family continued to live and work overseas, finally settling in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 1978. One of Lilian’s happiest accomplishments was the time she spent as a volunteer teacher and literacy tutor at Myrtle Beach Primary and Elementary Schools. Lilian resided in Myrtle Beach until 2010, when she moved in with her sons in West Columbia due to health reasons. She was able to visit her family in England most recently in the summer of 2005 which brought her great joy. Lilian loved a good cup of coffee and her faithful canine companion Judy. She was an avid reader and a dedicated letter writer, maintaining dozens of pen-pals for years and years. She had a brilliant, loving smile and was unfailingly generous. Lilian is survived by five children, four grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces. There will be a graveside service at Fort Jackson National Cemetery on Monday, August 13, 2018 at 3PM. To send flowers or a remembrance gift to the family of Lilian Stiffler, please visit our Tribute Store.