Kenneth Jasper Tomlinson

Kenneth Jasper Tomlinson went home to be with the Lord on December 3rd following a recent worsening of his Alzheimer’s disease due to a traumatic brain injury.
His peaceful passing was shared with his wife and two daughters at his home in Valdosta. Barbara June Snow Tomlinson, was the love of his life and wife of 60 years, she and his two daughters, Susan Lynn Tomlinson and Lisa Lynn Tomlinson were by his side.
He was born in Clinch County Georgia the youngest son of Mattie Isabella Rowan Tomlinson and William Jasper Tomlinson Jr., Kenneth was predeceased by his brothers Herbert Tomlinson, Cecil Tomlinson and William “Snooks” Tomlinson. Kenneth enjoyed a simple and loving childhood spent in the fields and woods of wiregrass Georgia, a source of his faith, his knowledge of the natural world, and of the importance of hard work.
Following his Army service in the 101st Airborne as a paratrooper during the Korean War, Kenneth joined his brother William in South Florida where he was employed by National Airlines which later merged with Pan American World Airlines for a combined 32 years. Kenneth was blessed to meet his wife Barbara while attending Little Flock Primitive Baptist church in Miami, while she was there visiting her Grandmother. Kenneth and Barbara raised their two daughters in South Florida before retiring to Valdosta in 1988 so they could care for his wife’s mother, the late Margaret Irene Snow. When returning to South Georgia, Kenneth and Barbara enjoyed the fellowship of their church family at Salem Primitive Baptist church.
During his time in South Florida, Kenneth attended Little Flock Primitive Baptist Church with his family for decades while living his life as a devoted father and husband. Kenneth was active along with his wife in volunteering in their daughters’ schools, while also pursuing his interests in a wide range of cultural activities from raising orchids and training bonsai trees to woodworking, gardening, and traveling the world with his wife and daughters.
Kenneth was a lover of classical music and had a lifelong love of the violin. One of his greatest satisfactions in his retirement was carrying out his dream of learning to repair old violins and finally building his own violin which he named “Amazing Grace” as that was the first song played on the newly built violin.
A lifelong learner, Kenneth also took great pride in returning to school and obtained an Environmental Horticulture degree in 1994 from Valdosta Technical Institute, known today as Wiregrass Georgia Technical College.
Kenneth J. Tomlinson can best be remembered as a devoted husband to his wife, a sweet Daddy to his two daughters, and a devoted PaPa to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Though he has been called home, those blessed with his love will always carry it with them in their hearts.
In addition to his wife of 60 years, Barbara Tomlinson, Kenneth is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Susan Tomlinson of Valdosta, and Lisa Tomlinson and William Christeson of Kensington, Maryland; grandchildren and their spouses, William Jr., and Tara Yonce of Grand Rapids, South Dakota, Robert and Kristen Yonce of Palm Bay, Florida and Haley Tomlinson of Kensington, Maryland; great-grandchildren, Benjamin Yonce, Konnor Yonce and Koda Yonce.
Due to the risk of COVID-19 private family graveside service for Kenneth Jasper Tomlinson will be held at the New Friendship Church Cemetery and a video will be made available to loved ones. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org/donate.