A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Ceres Memorial Park for Charles E. "Tommy" Tomlin, 86, of Modesto. The former Ceres resident died Jan. 1, 2008 at the Livermore Veterans Nursing home after battling Alzheimer's.
Salas Brothers Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Born Feb. 4, 1921, Mr. Tomlin was born in Charlottesville, Va. to Marcus E. and Merle Tomlin. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1938 and served on the USS Minneapolis for six years, homeported at Pearl Harbor. He was a survivor of 17 battles while serving aboard the ship, including having a 100-foot section of the ship's bow blown off at the Battle of Tassafaronga. After being discharged he worked at the Port Chicago Naval Ammunition Depot in Concord. He moved to Ceres where he met and married Claudia Elsen. Mr. Tomlin worked for the Norris Industries Ammunition plant in Riverbank during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He and his wife owned and operated the Cross Town Poultry Ranch in Ceres. After selling the poultry ranch Mr. Tomlin went to work for Gallo Winery as a production supervisor in the bottling room until his retirement in 1985. They moved to Modesto in 1998.
Mr. Tomlin attended the Grace Lutheran Church in Modesto where he enjoyed participating in the Monday Bunch who helped with repairs at the church and school.
In the 1950's and 1960's he was a member of the Ceres Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the American Legion in Ceres for 57 years. He also belonged to the Hughson Toe Steppers square dance club.
He leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Claudia Tomlin of Modesto; two daughters, Robbin Tomlin and Johnna Bryant, both of Modesto; his sister, Jean Carter of Virginia; two grandsons, Stan Bryant of Modesto, and Tom Bryant of Puyallup, Wash.; and three great-grandchildren, Kenny Bryant, Charles Bryant and Abby Bryant, all of Modesto.
Remembrances may be sent to the Veterans Nursing Home Care Unit, Building 90, 4951 Arroyo Rd. Livermore, CA 94550.
-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /January 9, 2008
Salas Brothers Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Born Feb. 4, 1921, Mr. Tomlin was born in Charlottesville, Va. to Marcus E. and Merle Tomlin. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1938 and served on the USS Minneapolis for six years, homeported at Pearl Harbor. He was a survivor of 17 battles while serving aboard the ship, including having a 100-foot section of the ship's bow blown off at the Battle of Tassafaronga. After being discharged he worked at the Port Chicago Naval Ammunition Depot in Concord. He moved to Ceres where he met and married Claudia Elsen. Mr. Tomlin worked for the Norris Industries Ammunition plant in Riverbank during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He and his wife owned and operated the Cross Town Poultry Ranch in Ceres. After selling the poultry ranch Mr. Tomlin went to work for Gallo Winery as a production supervisor in the bottling room until his retirement in 1985. They moved to Modesto in 1998.
Mr. Tomlin attended the Grace Lutheran Church in Modesto where he enjoyed participating in the Monday Bunch who helped with repairs at the church and school.
In the 1950's and 1960's he was a member of the Ceres Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the American Legion in Ceres for 57 years. He also belonged to the Hughson Toe Steppers square dance club.
He leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Claudia Tomlin of Modesto; two daughters, Robbin Tomlin and Johnna Bryant, both of Modesto; his sister, Jean Carter of Virginia; two grandsons, Stan Bryant of Modesto, and Tom Bryant of Puyallup, Wash.; and three great-grandchildren, Kenny Bryant, Charles Bryant and Abby Bryant, all of Modesto.
Remembrances may be sent to the Veterans Nursing Home Care Unit, Building 90, 4951 Arroyo Rd. Livermore, CA 94550.
-Ceres (Calif.) Courier /January 9, 2008
