Our beloved husband, Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather William (Bill) R. Tomlinson went home to be with his Lord and Savior on February 23, 2018. He will be missed deeply but his family will cherish all of the wonderful memories and the legacy he left. Bill was born on April 10, 1923 at Portland, Oregon to C. Verne and Effie (Stephens) Tomlinson. He lived his first 8 years on the family farm in Plaza, WA. The family moved to Spokane in 1931 and Bill attended Opportunity Grade School and graduated from Lewis & Clark High School. He entered the Army Air Cadet training at Arizona State University. The Army needed more infantry troops and he was reassigned to the 25th Regulation Station. He landed on Utah Beach D- Day plus 6 during the Normand Invasion. Bill served as Staff Sergeant and point man leading 45 convoy drivers delivering supplies to the troops on the front lines, at times under direct enemy fire. He operated in England, France, Belgium, Germany and Austria. He was discharged on January 14, 1946 at Fort Douglas, Utah. While traveling in Tampa, Florida he met and married the love of his life Inez Birge. They were married on March 24, 1946 in Ocala, Florida. Their first child Robert H. Tomlinson was born on January 5, 1947. Bill went to work with his father at C. Verne Tomlinson Real Estate until 1949 when he opened Tomlinson Realty. Their second child, Patricia M. Tomlinson was born on October 2, 1951. Bill was a successful real estate broker specializing in farm sales. He was well known and respected by farmers and ranchers. In 1970 Bill and his son Bob became partners. It was at this time that the company began offering residential real estate marketing. The company is known today as Coldwell Banker Tomlinson. Bill was proud that both of his children and three of his Grandchildren followed in his footsteps resulting in 4 generations in real estate. Bill was a member of the Spokane Association of Realtors and was honored to be included in the Million Dollar Club for many years. Bill and Inez made 30 road trips with their Sheltie, Kaytee between Spokane and Sarasota, Florida. Bill was an avid hunter and fisherman enjoying trips to Australia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Africa, Mexico, Costa Rica and Alaska with his son Bob, daughter-in-law Corrine and best friend Bob Frisch. Bill and Inez would have celebrated 72 years of marriage in March. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Howard Tomlinson, his sister Betty Moe and his Grandson Jason Robert Tomlinson. He is survived by his wife Inez, his son Robert (Corrine) Tomlinson, his daughter Patricia Tomlinson and Grandchildren Michele (Mark) Johnson, Kelly Mooney, Rob (Marissa) Tomlinson and Stacey Gilham, 5 Great Grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held on March 6 at 2:00 p.m. at Summit Church at 1801 E. 29th. He will be laid to rest at the Veterans Cemetery at Medical Lake with military honors. The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Deaconess Hospital especially Dr. Prescott the attending emergency room physician. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Wounded Warriors, Shriner's Children's Hospital and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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