Obituary
Eugene
“Gene” Tomlin passed away at Kettering Hospital on March 11, 2024 at the age of
87. Gene was the youngest of 11 siblings and is predeceased by his parents
William and Florence Combs Tomlin, sisters Edna (Carl) Craft, Bessie (Woolery)
Begley and Lena (Earl) Smith, brothers Wesley (Margaret), Wilbur (Jeanie),
Orville (Sue) and Clarence, Elijah (Wanda), Roy (Charity) and Tom (Jeanette). In
addition to his parents and siblings, Gene was also preceded in death by his
first wife Eileen Blair Tomlin and second wife Marjorie Dyer Tomlin.
Gene
is survived by his loving wife, Willa Bradley Tomlin of almost 13 years. Gene is lovingly remembered by his son, Randy
(Kim) Tomlin of Orlando, Florida, daughters Tammy (Charles) Merrill of New
Carlisle, Ohio, and Rhonda (Mitch) Jackson of Fairborn, Ohio, stepson, Aaron
(Carrie) Dingus of Centerville, Ohio and stepdaughter Jennifer (Robert) Catallo
of Kettering, Ohio, 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Gene
was born in Knott County, Kentucky on November 12, 1936. Gene graduated from high school in 1955 and
came to Dayton, Ohio where he worked for Miami Maid Bakery, Specialty Papers
and retired from Chrysler Corporation after 30 years of service. Gene was a member of IUE Local #801.
Gene
was the former Music Director for the Moraine City First Church of God, Dayton,
Ohio, where he attended for more than 40 years.
Gene loved southern gospel music and sang with the Canaanland Singers in
the 1980’s touring the tri-state area for 8 years. Gene’s hobbies included
following University of Kentucky basketball and was a true-blue fan of the
Kentucky Wildcats. In the off season,
Gene enjoyed the Cincinnati Reds and Dayton Dragons games and was an avid fan
of TV westerns. Gene was a prince among men with a quiet, calm and gentle
reserve and believed in the Golden Rule to do unto others as you would have
them do unto you. He practiced his faith
every day in the way he lived and the kind and thoughtful ways he treated his
family and friends.
The
visitation will be held at Moraine City First Church of God, 5867 N. Springboro
Pike, Dayton, Ohio 45449, on March 18, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. with funeral services
following at 1:00 p.m. Donald Curtis,
Pastor, and Robert Sebastian, officiating. Interment to follow at Rose Hill
Cemetery, 4781 South Charleston Road, Springfield, Ohio. In lieu of flowers,
memorial donations may be made to Moraine City First Church of God. Services
have been entrusted to the Zerkle Funeral Home, Tipp City. Condolences to the
family may be offered online through this online guestbook.