Robert “Don” Tompkins passed away peacefully, Thursday, October 22, 2015, in Visalia, California. He was a resident of Show Low, Arizona. Don was born in East Chicago, Indiana, on April 25, 1949, to Robert and Ruth (Wallace) Tompkins.
Don attended school in Waukegan, Illinois, Florence and Sheffield, Alabama. He graduated in May 1968 from Wayne County High School in Waynesboro Tennessee.
Don served in the United States Air Force from October 1968 to July 1976. He was stationed at Yokota Air Force Base Japan where he met and married Judy Tollison, of Ivanhoe, California, in October 1973. Upon returning to the states they were stationed at Andrews Air Force Base where he was honorably discharged with the rank of SSGT.
He returned to school in 1976 and attended Prince George Community College in Largo, Maryland, where he received his AA Degree to become an X-Ray technician. At that time they moved to Visalia, and he worked at Kaweah Delta District Hospital, Visalia Community Hospital and Exeter Memorial.
During the last 10 years of employment, he worked as a traveling X-Ray technician. During this time they discovered Juniper Ridge Resort in Show Low, Arizona, and bought property there. They enjoyed many summers and a couple of winters while still working and traveling. They took many trips in their fifth wheel and saw much of the United States.
Don retired in 2014 and was able to do many of the things he enjoyed. His favorite thing was his golf of which he enjoyed all during his working years and even more after he retired. Besides his golf and traveling, he enjoyed playing pool with his buddies and spending time with friends at Juniper Ridge Resort. He was a Life Member of the Visalia Elks.
Don is survived by his spouse of 42 years, Judy Tompkins, of Show Low, Arizona; a brother, Edward Glenn Tompkins, of Alabama; mother-in-law, Alice Tollison, of Ivanhoe, California; aunts and uncles; six brothers-in-law; and six sisters-in-law; many cousins, nieces and nephews from Alabama, California, Idaho, Oregon, Tennessee and Wyoming.
His sense of humor, numerous tales and southern ways will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Ruth Tompkins, and father-in-law, Myrl Tollison.
I would like to thank our Optimal Hospice Team for their wonderful loving care of Don during his illness.
Donations may be made in Don Tompkins memory to Optimal Hospice Foundation, 2439 W. Whitendale Ave #B, Visalia, California 93277 or The American Cancer Society, 110 W. Main St, Visalia, California 93291. As per his wishes, there will be no service.
