Oral J. 'Tom' Tompkins

Oral J. “Tom” Tompkins, son of the late Ervin Erskine and Lola Belle (Hawley) Tompkins, was born on May 9, 1915 in Kansas and departed this life on Monday, November 16, 2009 in the Manor Care Nursing Center in Springfield, Missouri. He was 94 years, 6 months and 7 days of age.
Tom grew up in the Gunnison, Colorado area and graduated from Gunnison High School. He was united in marriage to Grace Yoder on July 9, 1938 in Gunnison, Colorado. Three children were born to this union. Following Tom’s retirement in 1977, they moved to Mtn. Grove, Missouri. Mrs. Tompkins passed away on February 5, 1988.
Following the death of Grace, in the fall of 1988 he married Helen M. “Penny” Nichols. They lived on Frisco Street in Mtn. Grove for many years before making their home in the Autumn Oaks Caring Center.
Tom was employed as a welder in the shipyards during World War II. He had various jobs over the years, such as; an electrician, miner, and hunting snakes. He also had his Pastor’s license.
Tom had several hobbies throughout his life. He enjoyed playing the drums in area bands and woodworking.
While his health permitted, he attended the Pentecostal Lighthouse Church in Mtn. Grove where he enjoyed visiting with his many friends.
Besides his parents and his first wife, he was preceded in death by one brother: Clyde; and by one sister: Eilene.
He is survived by his two sons: Scott Tompkins and his wife, Sandy, of Hawaii, and Bernie Tompkins and his wife, Debbie, of Arlington, Texas; one daughter: Lillie Gaston and her husband, Paul, of Mtn. Grove and North Fort Myers, Florida; his wife: Helen “Penny” Tompkins of Mtn. Grove; nine grandchildren: Tommie, Shona, Joy, Rocky, Bonnie, Melody, Traci, Nikki, and Christi; nine great-grandchildren: Marinda, Nick, Stephanie, LeAnna, Cody, Morgan, Bailey, Kaeden, and Elijah; one great-great-grandchild: Peyton; one sister: Elsie Martin of Colorado; and a host of other relatives and friends who will miss him very much.


Funeral Services:
Friday, November 20th at 10:00 AM in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel.
Visitation:
Friday, Nov. 20th from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM before the service in the chapel.
Burial:
Lone Star Cemetery