Freddie Tomlinson

Freddie Tomlinson Freddie "Fred" Tomlinson passed away November 29, 2013 after a courageous battle with a lengthy illness. He was born June 15, 1938 in Visalia, California to Fred and Evelyn Tomlinson. In June of 1961, he married his best friend, Josephine "Joan" Anderson, and they had the privilege of sharing the next 52 years together. Fred was a highly talented and respected automobile repair specialist who perfected the art of frame straightening. He took great joy in sharing his knowledge and passing along the tricks of his trade to the younger generation. He was a member of Tulare AmVets Post #56 and a veteran of both the Army and the Navy, serving aboard the U.S.S. Lexington during the Korean Conflict. He was an active volunteer for the Visalia Senior Citizen's Center and enjoyed using his "mechanical skills" to keep their bingo machine operating. He was deeply committed to his family and friends, going out of his way to make sure everyone he cared about were well taken care of. He was admired by all who knew him, and known for his great sense of humor, his jokes, his patience, his smile and especially his kind heart, which will all be greatly missed. Freddie is survived by his wife of 52 years, Joan Tomlinson; his daughter, Michelle French of Tulare; sons, Robert Tomlinson of Ojo Caliente, New Mexico, Christopher Tomlinson of Tulare; sister, Ellen Lemay (Willard) of Susanville; 6 grandchildren: Casandra Alderete, Tia Alves (Marcelo), Nikole Christoffels, Darrell Christoffels Jr., Christopher Tomlinson Jr., Dakota Morris, as well as 6 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Ida Tomlinson and Evelyn Cassel and a daughter, Sandy Christoffels. A memorial service will be held in his honor on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 1 pm, at Peers Lorentzen Funeral Chapel in Tulare.