Donald Lilya

Donald E. Lilya, 79, of Topeka, died April 25, 2010, at Stormont-Vail HeathCare from complications related to diabetes, heart disease and Parkinson's. He was born and raised in Cumberland, Maryland, the son of Edwin R. and Harriet (Hattie) Clara Everstine Lilya. He attended Frostburg State College in Frostburg, Maryland. Don joined The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. at the Kelly-Springfield plant in Cumberland in 1950. His career was interrupted from 1951 to 1955 for military service in the U.S. Navy Air Force. In 1962, he was transferred to Tyler, Texas, where he met Lura, his wife of 47 years. Don's 45-year career with Goodyear included plant manager positions in Freeport, Illinois and Wolverhampton, England before he was transferred to Topeka, Kansas in 1984. His reputation as a turnaround expert brought positive change to the facilities he managed. Goodyear invested more than $220 million in the Topeka plant under Don's leadership. One of Don's passions was advancing the interests of business and industry while fighting against burdensome and counter-productive taxation policies. He was appointed to several state and local committees to represent the concerns of business. Don was honored as Sales & Marketing Executive of the Year in 1994. He retired from Goodyear in August 1995.

Don was actively involved in civic and community affairs wherever he lived. In Topeka, he served on numerous boards, including the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce, Topeka Performing Arts Center, Jayhawk Area Council of Boy Scouts, United Way of Greater Topeka and Merchant's National Bank. He was a member of First Lutheran Church, serving as head usher for more than 12 years.

Survivors include his wife, Lura; three children: Kim Dorton (Scott), Gray, Tennessee; LaDonna Little (Scott), Topeka; and Ed Lilya (Aneka), Austin, Texas; two sisters: Ruth Hammersmith, Glen Burnie, Maryland; Jean Fair (Bob), Cumberland, Maryland; brother-in-law: Don Kochever, Topeka; five grandchildren: Jacob Little, Topeka; Elise, Derek, Aaron and Jason Lilya, Austin, Texas; and 17 nieces and nephews. Don was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Shelby Lilya, and a sister, Ann Kochever.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 1, 2010, at First Lutheran Church, 1234 SW Fairlawn Rd, Topeka, Kansas. The family will receive visitors at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 SW 10th Ave., Topeka, Kansas, on Friday, April 30, from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to First Lutheran Church or the Parkinson's Disease Association of NE Kansas, P.O. Box 251, Topeka, KS 66601.