John Tobin

John E. Tobin PORTSMOUTH - John Edward Tobin was born Dec. 10, 1920 in White Plains, N.Y., and departed this earth Nov. 23, 2010. He was always proud to serve in the U.S. Navy after joining the conflict in 1941, and even came home from boot camp to graduate with his senior class in his newly acquired uniform. Although a Navy seaman, he was often called upon to serve as a hospital corpsman by the U.S. Marines. He saw action in Guadalcanal, the Solomon Islands, and Okinawa. These experiences had a deep lifelong effect upon him, which he gladly shared at a moments notice. In 1950 he again served his country in the Korean conflict as a medic in the field similar to M.A.S.H. His long and loyal service earned him the World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation (two awards), Good Conduct Medal (eight awards), United Nations Service Medal, and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal. Having seen much of the world in the service of his country, he retired from the U.S. Navy as a chief hospital corpsman in July 1966 to his adopted home in Portsmouth and later retired again from the Elizabeth River Tunnel Commission. John is preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Mary T. Tobin; and son-in-law, George LaLonde. He is survived by his five children, Mary Sharp, John E. Tobin Jr. and wife Carolyn Flowers, William (Billy) Tobin and wife Melanie, Lora LaLonde, and Christine Tobin and husband Serge Small; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and many extended family. He will be remembered as an enthusiastic and avid bingo player. He loved "God's Little Creatures" and made sure the bird feeder was always full. We ask that in lieu of flowers please make contributions to the SPCA. We would like it remembered that he was a kind, generous and loving husband and father, and will be dearly missed. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, in St. Paul's Catholic Church, Portsmouth, by the Rev. David Cupps. Burial with military honors will follow in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens, Suffolk. A Christian wake will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Baker-Foster Funeral Home, Bennett's Creek Chapel, Suffolk.