Kathryn Marie Tompkins
After surviving colon cancer and a hemorrhagic stroke, Kathryn Marie (Wilson) Tompkins, succumbed to Lewy Bodies Dementia at home on Sunday June 7th, 2015. She was 81 years of age.
Born: 06 December 1933 in Lubec, Maine to Owen and Elizabeth (Mahar) Wilson.
Schools: Graduated from Lubec High School. Degrees from Husson College, Bangor, Maine and Rose State, Midwest City, Oklahoma.
Lived: Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Florida, Oklahoma and Washington.
Retired from Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, OK January 1995 after 20 
years.
Kathryn loved to travel and read.
Survived by: Son – Robert H. Tompkins III, Oklahoma City, OK. Daughter – Sonja J. Tompkins, Kirkland, Washington. Sisters – Rowena Brown, Angier, North Carolina; Colleen Haight, Lillington, North Carolina. The late: Sister – Arlene Greenlaw, Lubec, Maine; Brother – Walter Wilson, Newark, New York
Various relatives, nieces and nephews.
9 Responses to “Kathryn Marie Tompkins”
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Those of you that knew mom well won’t be surprised to know that she wrote her obituary herself. I wrote the first paragraph, the rest was from a document she left for me detailing everything that would need to be taken care of once she passed. She even provided contact information for everyone I would need to notify. So very mom, you know.
A couple things I wanted to share:
1) She loved Ice with some water. Not “Iced Water”…she wanted the glass packed solid with ice and then some water added….and if the ice melted a little when you added the water, she would want more ice added. She had a really hard time when we went to Europe since they put maybe two cubes in a glass of water. She had to keep asking for more ice….and I did to, so that I could give it to her.
2) She was a hotdog aficionado. My whole life, I knew she loved her hotdogs. Whenever we went to Costco, she wanted a hotdog. When we went to West Beach, we couldn’t go without stopping in at the Lower Tavern to get a hot dog. She said they were the best because they split the dog and grilled it. When I worked at A&W, I would bring her home a hot dog with mustard, cheese and bacon. Yes, bacon. Luckily 5 guys burgers opened a location in Kirkland and I could pick her up her bacon/cheese dogs on my way home. Whenever we would go to Maine, she would be so excited because she could get the “red” hot dogs. I’m sure the dye was bad for her, but she loved those red dogs! She also loved the hot dog buns that they used in Maine. They were like slices of bread on the sides so she could butter and grill them.
She will be in my heart for the rest of my days drinking her ice with water and eating her hotdog.
Sonja, I am at a loss for words. I know there is nothing for me to say that will make your loss easier but know that I am sending you my love and support. I hope you can understand what I can’t put into words. I have thought of Kathryn often. I know I haven’t seen her in years but I remember her to be quite and so sweet!!! My prayers are with you and your family.
Lynn Johnson-Smith
I’ll always remember how much she loved to read. And how MUCH she read. You always seemed to have a new stack of books sitting by the front door to return to the library.
I’m thankful you had each other and that you have so many happy memories of the time you spent together. She was a truly wonderful woman.
I was lucky enough to get to know Kathryn for a brief time thru Sonja with 2 social visits per week last year. 😉 she didn’t say much but when she did you could tell she still had her sense of humor and had a unique way of seeing life. I wish I had known her in her younger years, but it is clear by the woman she raised in Sonja, that she was quite exceptional. My prayers and thoughts are with you Sonja. She was also VERY lucky to have such a loving daughter as yourself.
A wonderful tribute to a wonderful woman from her wonderful daughter.
Sonja, we are so very sorry. Your Mom was amazing, she was smart and had a wicked sense of humor! She could read more than almost anyone I know. Scott will miss the political banter that they had with each other. She will be missed.
I’m really sorry to hear of your loss. You and your mom were very close, and all the memories of your travels and adventures will stay with you forever.
I enjoyed your tribute to your mom. Although I’ve never been to Five Guys before, I’m going for a bacon cheese dog today in memory of your mother, along with a tall glass of ice with water. God bless. Thinking of you.
Sonja- I enjoyed working with your mom so much! What a special lady she was. We sat next to each other so I know about her “ice water” and how much she loved hot dogs! She always brought me strawberry jam from Maine that she made with her family. I loved it so. I went on a tour of Maine and I thought of her while I was there. She told me so much about the place she grew up. She loved you so and was so proud of the woman you turned out to be and she loved spending so much time with you. I’ll cherish my memories of her.
Sonja, I just learned about Kathy’s passing today. Such sad news! I worked with Kathy at Tinker and we sat together in the back of the office, so I was privy to her quirky sense of humor and her quiet sweet ways. I have a particularly fond memory of your mom. It was when we went skiing in Colorado one year. You remember that trip, don’t you? One day, Kathy and I decided we would take a dogsled ride rather than fight the ski slopes. We trekked off to the appointed place, and a charming hippie guy got us all tucked in under some warm blankets, with Kathy sandwiched behind (since she was taller) and with me sitting in front. Away we went through the deep snow, toasty warm in spite of the freezing cold temperature, enjoying the sunshine and the entertaining commentary from our hippie musher. He pointed out all kinds of critter tracks and told us all about his hardworking sled dogs, but the highlight of that long ride was his amusing narration of the poem, “The Cremation of Sam McGee”. It was such a wonderful, fun time shared with your mom. I will never forget her. You were lucky to have her, as she was blessed to have you. God bless you.