Bob was born on March 23, 1954, in Bethesda, Maryland, to the late Robert and Jane Tomlinson. Raised in Atlanta, he graduated from Lakeside High School in 1972. He went on to attend Georgia Southern University, where he fell smitten with Jane, his wife of 50 years. They married on December 12, 1976, and built a life together that became their family’s bedrock. Throughout the years their love was constant, affectionate, and devoted. In their kingdom, he was her King and she his Queen.
Bob’s career in engineering spanned more than 50 years. Early in his career, he worked at Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis, Missouri, before moving with his family to Greenville, South Carolina, where he enjoyed a successful career with Fluor Daniel for nearly 30 years. Greenville became the family’s home, and he and Jane remained there until moving to Jasper, Georgia in 2024.
A Georgia Tech fan, Bob also loved cars and photography. His knowledge of cars was encyclopedic: he could tell you the make, model, year, and what made each one interesting.
Above all, Bob will be remembered for his kindness and his smile. He was deeply committed to his three children, Avery, Alex, and Ben. He taught them how to treat others through the way he lived: holding a door, offering a friendly handshake, saying please and thank you, and greeting people with warmth. He brought that same warmth to colleagues and any strangers he met along the way. His example lives on in his children and in the everyday kindnesses they learned from him.
Through the last years of his life Jane cared for him with steadfast love and devotion. The family is deeply grateful to The Jasper Retreat for their compassion, and support they extended to both Bob and Jane.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Jane; his children, Avery, Alex, and Ben; his sister, Jan Johnston, and her husband, Mark Johnston; his sister, Betsy Padgett; his brother, Billy Tomlinson, and his wife, Cathy Tomlinson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Jane Tomlinson.
A visitation will be held at 10 AM on Monday, November 9th at Roswell Funeral Home. A celebration of life will take place at the funeral home at 12 PM, which will be followed by interment at Green Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bob’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org or the Savoy Automobile Museum at savoymuseum.org. Bob will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all who knew him.
