Edwin Fredrick Pilger, a past president of the Texas Tire & Automotive Association (TTAA) and founder of Pilger’s Tire & Auto Center in College Station, Texas, has died.
He was 92 years old.
Born to Everett and Frances Pilger, Edwin purchased an Exxon gas station in College Station, Texas, in 1971 and opened Pilger’s Tire & Auto Center in 1974 with his wife, Doris.
They retired almost 23 years ago and moved to Franklin, Texas.
Pilger’s Tire & Auto Center continues today and is operated by Edwin’s son, Rick Pilger, and his wife Beverly.
Edwin was a founding member of the TTAA, then known as the Texas Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association. He served the organization on its board of directors and as president from 1989 through 1991.
According to his obituary, “he treated his customers and employees with respect, care and concern. Honesty and integrity were his building blocks.”
Pilger was also a “United States Air Force veteran and loved retelling the days of proudly serving his country.”
Edwin was preceded in death by Doris, his wife; Mary Giles, his daughter; and Emily Fritsch, his granddaughter. He is survived by daughter, Cynthia Hughes, and husband, John of Camp Creek; son, Rick Pilger, and wife, Beverly of Bryan; daughter, Phyllis Fritsch, and husband, Lee of La Grange; son, Adren Pilger, and wife, Susan of Navasota; son-in-law, Lynn Giles, of Iola and daughter, Patricia Potts, and husband, Lance, of East Bernard.
He is also survived by grandchildren Leslie Herring, Tracy Cain, Haley Hughes, Melinda Boehm, Jenny Murphy, Amy Clary, Valerie Stein, Elizabeth Allensworth, Casey Giles, Daniel Pilger, Seth Potts, Lori Giles, Jamie Darr, Victoria Heller, Katie Giles, Jayci Janecek and Shea Potts, as well as 23 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the Pilger family asks for donations to the Twin City Mission P.O. Box 3490, Bryan, Texas 77805, or the Emily Fritsch Memorial Scholarship (care of: Fayette County Savings Bank, P. O. Box M, LaGrange, Texas 78945).
