James Jay Tomlinson

James Jay Tomlinson returned to the home of our Lord on Aug. 25, 2015. He was born on July 5, 1939, to Ethel Belle (Lockman) and Howard Tomlinson in Walla Walla.

He attended public schools in Walla Walla and worked at Tomlinson Dairy prior to enlisting in the Air Force in 1956 where he served several years overseas in France and Germany. Jim was employed many years at Peninsula Plywood (later K-Ply) in Port Angeles as a millwright prior to retirement in 1999 and returned to his childhood home in Walla Walla.

Jim was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed spending time in nature hunting and fishing. He also loved restoring classic automobiles and would travel all over the country to various car shows. He loved to tell stories of growing up on the dairy farm, and his time in the service, as well as trips he had taken to New York City and the Hawaiian Islands. He loved playing cards at weekly family dinners and was an avid coin collector. He was a fan of country music and enjoyed attending concerts.

Mr. Tomlinson was preceded in death by sisters, Phyllis Kicker McCarthy and Florence Dahl. Survived by sisters, Marian Zeman of Salem, Ore., Sandra (Dale) Hopson of Walla Walla, and Judith (John) Kusler of Las Vegas, Nev.; brother, Richard (Kathleen) Tomlinson of Walla Walla; as well as five children, Ethel Belle King of Walla Walla, Lori (Christopher) Baumgardner of Kennewick, Douglas King (Cheryl) of Walla Walla, and Gina Brown and Jeremy (Crystal) Tomlinson, both of Port Angeles; ten grandchildren, Alexander and Kyler Baumgardner, Eric, Kindra, Kayla and Doug King, Gunnar and Bergen Amundson, and Aaron and Cody Tomlinson; many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Viewing & visitation will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2015 from 11:00 AM until 7:00 PM at the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. Services will be held graveside at Mountain View Cemetery at 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, 2015; a reception at Golden West Estates clubhouse will follow. Memorial donations may be made to Pioneer Park through the funeral home.