Charles "Joe" Joseph Tompkins

Charles Joseph Tompkins passed away on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, at the age of 90. He will be greatly missed. He was born to Stella Ellen McDonnell and Raphael Emmett Tompkins at St. Mary Hospital in Walla Walla, on Sept. 11, 1923. He started his education at Struthers Country School in Umatilla County and in 1941 graduated from St. Patrick’s High School, where he was student body president. He was a patrol leader in the Boy Scouts of America and in 1937 went to the National Jamboree in Washington. He attended Gonzaga University until he withdrew in 1943 to join the U.S. Air Corps, completing his training as a pilot in 1944.

On the day he got his wings, he married Mary Louise Chabre, the love of his life, and one week later was on his way to World War II. He spent the next two years flying a Douglas C47 transport plane throughout the Mediterranean Theater. After the war, he entered the Air Force Reserves, was a member of the 407th reserve squadron and retired as a major.

Upon returning home, he took over the family farm near Spofford, Ore., that his father had managed for 30 years prior to his death. In 1948, Joe founded Walla Copter with several investors, the first commercially licensed helicopter operation used for agricultural spraying. In 1954, he became a partner in Tompkins & Nibler, an agricultural seed-processing business founded by his father. In 1956, Joe moved the family to town and began to rebuild Tompkins & Nibler after a disastrous fire nearly wiped out the business. He was the managing partner and majority owner for much of his 30 years with the company until another catastrophic fire caused him to close the plant and retire in 1983.

Joe and Mary Louise remained married for 68 years, until her death in December 2012. They had four children, Douglas, Rebecca, JoAnne and Raphael.

Throughout the years, Joe was extremely active in the Walla Walla community. In addition to serving as president of the Camp Fire Board, Serra Club, and Reserve Officer Association, he was chairman of Northwest Rural Opportunities and vice president of the Saint Vincent DePaul board. He was also active in the American Legion, the Elks, the Knights of Columbus, St. Patrick Church Council, Fort Walla Walla volunteers and the Military Officers Association of America. For 54 years, Joe and Mary Louise enjoyed a monthly gathering of eight farm couples to play cards, affectionately known as “the bridge club.” Joe had a lifelong love of learning, continuing his college studies through Washington State University, Walla Walla Community College and correspondence courses, studying everything from business law to entomology.

He and Mary Louise were avid skiers, helping to develop Spout Springs while in their 20s. Joe served as a member of the ski patrol there and taught skiing at Spout Springs until his late 60s. Joe and Mary Louise loved to travel, visiting all 50 states, parts of Canada, and 11 foreign countries. For 10 years, they spent six months a year as “snow birds” at Paradise Resort, Sun City, Ariz. He was a remarkably resilient man who survived a helicopter crash, metastatic cancer, heart attacks and a five-way bypass, remaining active and engaged with life until a few weeks before his death.

Preceding him in death are his parents; his wife, Mary Louise; and a nephew, Leonce Chabre. Survivors are his two sons, Douglas Tompkins of Pasco, Ray Tompkins and his wife, Anne, of Snohomish, Wash.; his two daughters, Rebecca Fulfs and her husband, Leroy, of Kennewick, and JoAnne Tompkins and her husband, Jon Schorr, of Seattle; grandsons, Nathan Fulfs and his wife, Emily, of Seattle, and Joshua Fulfs of Portland; granddaughters, Alexa Curry of Seattle, Laura Tompkins of Issaquah, Sarah Tompkins of Snohomish; one great-grandson, Kieran Fulfs of Seattle; and nephews, Wayne Chabre and wife, Jeanne McMenemy, Barry Chabre and Randy Chabre of Walla Walla; one niece, Donna Ruddell and her husband, George, of Wenatchee.

A memorial Mass will be held at St. Patrick Catholic Church on Monday, Feb. 24, 2014, at 10 a.m. The Rosary will be recited at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014, at Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder, Walla Walla. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Catholic Charities or other charity of choice through the funeral home