James Tompkins

Waynesville, James Allen Tompkins, age 89, passed away on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at Haywood Lodge and Retirement Center. A native of Oconee, Washington County, Georgia and former resident of Orlando, Florida, he had resided in Haywood County since 1986. He was the son of the late Charlie and Georgia Shurling Tompkins and was also preceded in death by a daughter, Carol Ziglar, a grandson, Eric Morrow and one sister, Emma Peck. James was a US Navy veteran of World War II and retired in 1985 with 45-years service as a supervisor of Martin Marrietta in Orlanda, Florida. He was a member of the Masons, Shriners, and the Scottish Rite. He enjoyed watch and jewelry repair as a hobby and volunteered with Meals-On-Wheels. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Margaret Davis Tompkins; three daughters, Sharon Cooper and her husband, Jim, of Clyde, Barbara Meliski and her husband, Buck, of Chimney Rock, and Susan Baker and her husband, Brad, of Roseland, Florida; two brothers, Troy Tompkins, of McLean, Virginia and Harold Tompkins, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; three grandsons, J. Meliski, Anthony Cooper and his wife, Ashley, and Mark Meliski and his wife, Heather; and three great grandchildren, Madeline and Owen Cooper and Cooper Meliski; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at Crabtree United Methodist Church, of which he was a member. Reverend Terry Rowland will officiate. Burial will follow at Dawn Memory Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:00 until 2:00 p.m. prior to services at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Dawn Memory Gardens Cemetery Fund, 5405 Crabtree Road, Clyde, NC 28721.

Previous Events