Paula Jo Tomlinson Migdalek

Born on 17 October 1950, in Corpus Christi, Texas, she was the first-born of Bettie Rae Backus Tomlinson and Robert Scott Tomlinson, Jr. She was preceded in death by her mother and by her beloved husband, Laurence (Larry) Fredric Migdalek, who passed away in January 2001 after a long struggle with cancer.

Paula is survived by her father and step-mother, Marjorie Roberson Tomlinson, of Durham, NC; brother, Tracy Scott Tomlinson of Washington D.C.; sister, Marta Carol Tomlinson and her partner, Linda Bernadette Grone, of Frederick, MD; brother, Allen Grant Tomlinson and his partner Yvonne A. Manske of Washington D.C.; nephew, Robert Scott Tomlinson III, of Washington D.C.; niece, Claire Olivia Tomlinson, of Potomac, MD; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Paula was a loved one, a friend, and someone special. To family and friends who knew her best, Paula will be remembered as a very exceptional, loving, and giving person.

As a young girl, Paula had a number of interests. Like most children, she enjoyed playing and making up games. She was curious about the world around her and was often eager to explore it. Paula was an active child who took part in track and field and was a member of Girl Scouts. In her spare time she liked making clothes and furniture for her Barbie doll. Memorable achievements for Paula included winning a county-wide spelling bee and two track and field events. However, to Paula, the most fun to be had was simply playing and spending time with her friends.

A typical teenager, Paula had a fairly happy high school experience, attending Weslaco High School in Weslaco, Texas and graduating from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, Maryland in 1968. She won first prize at a State Science Fair for building a model-size solar house, but her favorite subject throughout high school was English Literature, and she continued that interest at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Always considered a good friend to those she knew, Paula enjoyed a broad group of acquaintances and several very close friends during her lifetime. While growing up, some of her best friends were Elizabeth Roe, Sandy Mortensen, Linda Franklin, Nancy Bachelder, Tommy Taylor, Ivan Fortenberry, and Jim Green. Later in life, she became friends with Gracie and Al Remekis, Sue and Ron Stevens, Diana and Larry Beck, Ann and Barry Smoler, Louise and Louis Welcher, and Rosie and Ken Welcher, as well as (from a younger generation) Etelvina Martinez and Sean Eversen, both of whom grew up as neighbors..

While Paula and Larry had no children, their lives were filled with love for (and from) their nephews and nieces, as well as, many dogs and cats, including their Schnauzers, Cerberus, Fritz, and Freida and their cats, Gala, Haile, Alma, and Boz.

Paula enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were jewelry and jewelry making, sewing, cooking, gardening, art, music, movies, and reading. She was content to enjoy her favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Also something of a sports fan, she enjoyed following her favorite teams whenever she had the chance to do so. Tops on her list were the Dallas Cowboys football team and the Georgetown Hojas basketball team.

Paula was a woman who took pride in upholding her beliefs. So it is little wonder that she took an active role in her community, being involved in the Georgetown House tours, Glover Park Days, and neighborhood block-parties. Paula was a strong supporter of local Women's Shelters, the ASPCA, and was among the first to greet new residents to her neighborhood.

Traveling abroad was one of Paula's great joys. It was a chance for her to renew and relax, to visit new places and experience new architecture and the museums of foreign countries. Along with her late husband, Larry, she took several trips to Europe, and while she proclaimed Paris to be her favorite city of all those she had visited, she always had a special place in her heart for an extended trip to Croatia, Yugoslavia in 1975. In the U.S., however, Paula's favorite vacation spot was any beach, any where. At the top of her list was the Florida Keys, in no small part because of her love for the music of Jimmy Buffett!

Other music favorites of Paula's were Bonnie Raitt, John Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker, Little Feat, and Delbert McClinton.

Simply stated, Paula was a good and kind person, an individual who will for all time be remembered by her family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Paula leaves behind her a legacy of lifelong friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life she touched will always remember Paula Jo Migdalek and that wonderful, wonderful smile!

NOTE: Please share your memories of Paula at her website. Click on "Special Links" (above left), then "Dignity Memorial".