Frank Jeannin Tomlinson

Colonel Frank Jeannin Tomlinson, USAF, Retired, passed away peacefully at home and surrounded in love on January 8, 2021. Frank, also known to family and friends as Tommy, Grandpa, and FooFar, joined his beloved and greatly missed wife, Sally, who predeceased him on August 1, 2010. Tommy, an extraordinary father, will be forever missed by his much loved children, Kim (Rick), Lou Ann, and Robert (Lisa), his grandchildren, Christina (David), Caitlin (Jack), Cristen (Charlie), Max, Miquela, and Desiree, his great-grandchildren, Lily, Brooklynn, and David, and many treasured nieces, nephews, and friends, including special friends Nora Vargas and Nora Prudent who provided such tender home care.

Born in Texarkana, Texas on October 10, 1929, Tommy was raised in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, became an Eagle Scout, and attended the University of Oklahoma before enlisting in the United States Air Force to become a pilot through the Aviation Cadet Program.

As a proud, decorated Air Force fighter pilot, Tommy flew F-86’s with the 51st Wing stationed in Korea during the Korean War and flew F-102’s with the 317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, in Cold War defense missions. He also flew A-1 Skyraiders with the 22nd and 602nd Special Operations Squadrons out of Thailand during the Vietnam War conducting Sandy “search and rescue” missions for downed pilots and aircrew, and armed reconnaissance and interdiction missions. Colonel Tomlinson was interviewed by his daughter, Kim, for the Library of Congress Veterans History Project on October 13, 2003 and personally delivered his collection to the Veterans History Project. https://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/story/loc.natlib.afc2001001.38164/

As a dedicated military family, Tommy, Sally and their children traveled the world from Missouri, Florida, Alaska, Alabama, California, Norway, to Andrews AFB, Maryland, where Colonel Tomlinson was stationed as Base Commander. Frank, in his civilian second-career, worked for Rockwell Collins in Arlington, Virginia. Tommy and Sally loved living in Crystal City and listening to “music in the park.”

With military honors, Colonel Tomlinson will joyously be reunited with his wife, Sally, and interred in Arlington National Cemetery in July, 2022, with a Celebration of Life afterwards. Donations in Colonel Tomlinson’s memory can be made to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation at https://specialops.org