Fern Evelyn Tompkins
Fern Evelyn Tompkins, Warsaw, passed away at 12:20 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016 at Miller’s Merry Manor of Warsaw at the age of 99.
She was born Sept. 27, 1917 in Augusta, Maine to Charlotte Elda (McCrea) Webber and Almon Herbert Webber. In April 1937 she was married to Edwin George Kashishian, and on April 1971 she married Winston Barton Tompkins, Sr., who passed away on January 21, 2002.
She spent her childhood in Los Angeles, Dorchester, Long Beach, and Seattle. She graduated from high school in Oxford, Penn. Fern attended Long Beach Junior College and received her B.A. and M.A. Degrees in Education from the University of Southern California.
She was a resident of Kosciusko County since 1998 where she attended Warsaw Church of Christ. Fern was a lifetime educator and taught all grades while living in California. She served 23 dedicated years as principal of Lakewood Elementary School in Florida.
She was an accomplished musician in playing the guitar, mandolin, banjo, violin, and even the organ. She had written a collection of poems worthy of publishing and enjoyed playing golf. She loved art, several of her beautiful paintings and photographs remain to be enjoyed. Most of all she loved her family.
She will be lovingly remembered by her daughter: Gracia Anne McDairmant, Warsaw; son: James Louis (wife Orla) Kashishian, Madrid, Spain; twelve grandchildren; twenty-two great-grandchildren; and sixteen great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, and one great-grandson, Anthony Thomas LaRue.
A private family graveside service will be conducted Thursday, Nov. 3 at Oakwood Cemetery of Warsaw and officiated by Don Taylor. Arrangements were entrusted to Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana.
Memorial donations may be directed to Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice, P.O. Box 1196, Warsaw, Indiana 1196-46581; or Water for Good, P.O. Box 247, Winona Lake, Indiana 46590 and would be appreciated by the family.
Online condolences may be sent through the funeral home’s Web Site at www.redpathfruthfuneralhome.com