Feb. 14, 2002
Wapello Republican.
James Conway "Red" Tomlinson of Juneau, Alaska, died May 28, 2001, at his home. He was born on Aug. 20, 1922, in Wapello, where he grew up and was a 1940 graduate of Wapello High School. On at least two occasions he won the Louisa County Spelling Contest and competed in the state spelling contest in Des Moines.
In 1940, he joined the U.S. Navy and served as a signalman during World War II.
He attended the School of Mines in Socorro, N.M. and graduated from Tulsa University in 1954, with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry. He married Virginia Smith on July 9, 1955. In 1958 he began working for Philco as an electronics technician. He worked for Philco on government contracts at Fort Bliss, NASA's New London tracking site, Langley Air Force Base, and the Newport News shipyard. In 1969, he began working for the FAA in Alaska, and lived in Unalakleet, Moses Point, Sisters Island, Kotzebue, Fairbanks, Cold Bay, Anchorage and finally Juneau. He retired from Federal service in 1986 and went to work for the State Ferry System as an oilier and engineer until he retired in 1994.
He attained the Highest Honors in Scottish Rite of Free Masonry by receiving his 33rd degree in 1996. At the time of his death he was a member of the Washington Lodge of Research, the Maritime Lodge No. 239, in Seattle, Wash., Juneau Scottish Rite Bodies, Nile Temple for Shriners, Order of the Eastern Star Juneau Chapter No. 7 and was the Rainbow Dad in Juneau Chapter No. 3. International Order of Rainbow for Girls.
He is survived by his wife Virginia; his brother Bruce and wife Barbara Tomlinson and their two children, Alan and Karen, all of California, his daughter, Nina Tomlinson of North Pole, Alaska; his son Nels and wife Susan Tomlinson of Indiana and their children Conway and Constance Tomlinson.
