James A. Tomlinson

On the morning of Saturday, May 16, 2009, James A. Tomlinson of Canton, Pa., formerly of LeRoy, Pa., passed away quietly at his home with his family at his side. He was 91 years of age.

Born June 16, 1917, in LeRoy, he was the son of Earl and Grace (Allen) Tomlinson. During the Second World War, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army, returning to the family farm when the hostilities ceased.

He married his childhood sweetheart, Edna Smith, and together they raised a son and a daughter and shared 65 years.

Jim was a man blessed with a strong work ethic and did whatever was necessary in order to provide for his family. While primarily a dairy farmer, Jim worked simultaneously as a school bus driver for the Canton School District, and as a coal deliveryman for the former Ellis Coal Co. Jim and Edna also opened their home, as well as their hearts, to the care of foster children.

He was a former member of the Open Hand Grange as well as the former LeRoy Church of Christ.

Jim loved to travel, and prior to the passing of his parents, he often visited them in Houston, Texas, where they resided with their daughter, Maude. In more recent years Jim enjoyed playing cards each Thursday night at the home of his friend, Raymond Holcomb. Another favorite activity was walking several miles at a time throughout his community, where he was the self-appointed "supervisor" of many local projects. He spent many winters in Ft. Meade, Fla., where he enjoyed the warm weather and playing shuffleboard.

Throughout his life, Jim cherished his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and went to great lengths to provide for them. In turn, when his physical condition denied him his abilities for self-sufficiency, his beloved Edna and family lovingly cared for him at home. He will be greatly missed.

Jim is survived by his wife of 65 years, Edna (Smith) Tomlinson, at home; son, Theodore (and Karen) Tomlinson of LeRoy; daughter, Marsha (and William) Krause of Canton; grandson, Robert J. (and Diane) Tomlinson of LeRoy; granddaughters Kelly (and Robert) Liddy, Dr. Trisha A. Krause (and husband Dr. Sanjay Bhagchandani), all of Richmond, Va., and Danielle S. Krause of Boston; great-grandchildren, Dylan Tomlinson and Tabitha Tomlinson of LeRoy, and Sophie Liddy of Richmond; and foster children, Deborah Cooper of Hanover, Pa., and Paul (and Virginia) Inman of Denison, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Maude Tomlinson and Dora Rogers.

Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 20, at Morse & Kleese Funeral Home, 40 N. Center St., Canton. The service will follow at 11 a.m. with Pastor Jerry Schmidt officiating. Interment will be in LeRoy Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Guthrie Hospice, 1 Hospital Drive, Towanda, PA 18848, or to the LeRoy Heritage Museum, RR 1, Box 5152, Canton, PA 17724.