Thomas Tomlinson

Thomas L. Tomlinson passed away peacefully on December 4, 2020 at the age of 73.  He was born on April 10, 1947 in Akron, Ohio, one of two sons of Hubert and Virginia (Jenkins) Tomlinson.  Tom dedicated his life to his family and community through his career as a police officer and his volunteerism in the Cuyahoga Falls area.  After 29 years of service, Tom retired as a Captain from the Cuyahoga Falls Police Department in 2003.

After his retirement, Tom loved to spend time with the love of his life, Karen, particularly traveling to Las Vegas and their condo in Naples. After her passing in 2006, Tom sought comfort in becoming a very active member of Northampton United Methodist Church. He especially enjoyed his involvement with the Royal Family Kids Camp and youth mission trips. Tom volunteered much of his time to Heart 4 The City’s food pantry and weekly deliveries of Meals on Wheels. He also loved golfing with his friends on the Golf League and never missed a tee time.

While Tom was proud to protect others alongside his “Brothers in Blue”, which included his actual brother, Gordon, what he was most proud of were his grandchildren- all 8 of them- and they were all proud to be his grandchildren. After his retirement, he took on the job title of Full Time Grandpa, where his duties included babysitting every Wednesday, decorating Christmas cookies, golf lessons, breakfast dates, and one of his proudest moments- poker tournaments where all the players were taught by the Poker Champion Himself. He taught his children and grandchildren much more significant lessons than how to call a bluff, and that is how to be leaders, have compassion, give to those who cannot give themselves, and to have integrity- a value which Tom embodied wholly. His warm and generous spirit, his infectious laugh, and his engaging story-telling brought great light to everyone and he will be dearly missed by many. He was truly the life of the party.

In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his wife Karen Tomlinson.

He is survived by his brother, Gordon (Lynn) Tomlinson; daughters, Barbra (Scott) Knoch and Michelle (Dave) Kridler; step-daughters, Elizabeth Dean and Linda Kennedy; former wife and long-time friend, Cheryl Tomlinson; grandchildren, Marcia Tomlinson, Autumn (Josh) Hayden, Khylee Kridler, Alexis Kridler, and Justin, Ashley, Kinsey and Braden Knoch; dear friend, Edna Trivonovich, and many extended family members and friends.

A private memorial service will be held on December 10 at 2:00 pm at Northampton United Methodist Church, livestreamed at https://youtu.be/ipxyinwdKWM and simulcast on the church’s Facebook page.  A larger Celebration of Life will be held at a later date so that all of those that have been impacted by Tom can safely honor his memory.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Royal Family Kids Camp - Cuyahoga Falls Chapter and sent to Northampton United Methodist Church at 852 W. Bath Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223 or to the National Aphasia Association online at aphasia.org.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Clifford Shoemaker Funeral Home, 330-928-2147.