OBITUARY: RICHARD ARTHUR TOMPKINS

Submitted by: Cathy Cadd, cathycadd -at- msn.com

Source: "The Daily News", Longview, Cowlitz Co., Washington.  5 Mar 2002.

Longtime local resident, Richard Arthur Tompkins, 72, of Winlock, died Feb. 28,
2002, at the Hospice Care Center.  He was born Nov. 25, 1929, in Columbus, Neb.,
to Dale C. and Hazel Mae (Johnson) Tompkins.  He moved with his family to Kelso
in 1937 and to his farm in Winlock in 1961.  Mr. Tompkins served in the army
during World War II and was discharged in 1949.  He worked at Crescent Shingle
Mill in Kelso and Cascade Natural Gas Co. until 1981.  He loved his farm in
Winlock and did custom haying, and raised polled Herefords for many years.  He
enjoyed visiting with his coffee-break friends in Vader.  He was a charter
member of the Vader Lions Club, and avid outdoorsman and hunter.  He married
Caroline Harrison in 1950.  They had three children.  She preceded him in death.
In 1970, he married Betty Jo (Askay) Linder and adopted her two daughters.
Surviving him are his wife of 32 years at home;  two sons, Richard Tompkins Jr.
of Salem and Rodney Tompkins of Kelso;  three daughters, Susan Tompkins Walker
of Battle Ground, Wash., Susan (Linder) Tompkins of Kelso, and Karen Tompkins
Leseman of Castle Rock;  two brothers, Eldon Tompkins of Seattle, and Dale
Tompkins of Rainier, Wash.;  two sisters, Beth Beck and Bessie Nichols, both of
Kelso;  13 grandchildren;  two great-grandchildren;  and numerous nieces and
nephews.  In addition to his first wife, Mr. Tompkins was preceded in death by
two brothers, Wayne Tompkins and LaVern Tompkins.