Reuben "Big Rube" Frederick Lilly, Sr. passed away at his residence on Tuesday, February 18, 2015. He was 83 years old.

Born in Coplay, PA in 1931 he was the son of the late Catherine G. Edwards Lilly Freed and Reuben Thomas Lilly. He also spent many of his young formative years with his grandparents, Thomas and Esther Frickert Lilly. His loving wife of 51 years, Ethelmae Marcella Simcoe Lilly, passed away in 2003.

Reuben served in the Air Force and traveled throughout Europe playing on the Air Force basketball team. Upon finishing his duty, he studied at Moravian College in Bethlehem, following in the footsteps of his grandfather. He is recognized as an alumnus who has contributed to his Alma Mater every year since graduating. He had a successful career working as a District Manager for Mobil Oil Corporation and relocated to La Plata in 1972 where he became the Manager of Southern Maryland Tires, which was a subdivision of Southern Maryland Oil. The next move for Reuben led him to become the Wholesale Manager for Waldorf Tire.

In retirement, he took great, loving care of his wife Ethel, played golf as often as he could with his buddies Buck, Don, and Joe and loved the competitiveness of the pitch league at Hawthorne Country Club where he was a life-time member. He was also a member of the St. Charles Senior Club at the Waldorf Jaycees. For many years, he and Ethel so enjoyed travelling back to Pennsylvania each year to spend time with their "Card Club" friends.

He is survived by his sons, Reuben (Jay) Frederick Lilly, Jr., Joel Thomas Lilly, and Christopher Scott Lilly; his daughters-in-law Mary A. Pocsatko-Lilly, and Barbara Perry Lilly; his granddaughter Ashley Anne Lilly; his special four-legged grandson, Chance; his long-time companion, Nancy Johnson; his half-sisters, Shirley Deiley and Dolores Eck; and numerous brothers and sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

Friends received on Monday, February 23, 2015 from 2-4PM and 6-8PM with a Wake Service at 7PM at Raymond Funeral Service Chapel, 5635 Washington Avenue, La Plata, MD 20646. A Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 11AM at Mount Carmel Monastery, 5678 Mt. Carmel Road, La Plata, MD 20646 with burial at the same location. Arrangements by Raymond Funeral Service in La Plata, MD.

Donations can be made to Moravian College, Development Office, 1200 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018 (Attention: Patricia Price) or the College of Southern Maryland, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata, MD 20646.