Obituary of Gerald W. Tompkins

Cooper Plains, NY | Gerald W. Tompkins, 91, of Main St. Coopers Plains, NY, entered into rest on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at his home. Born in Addison, NY on June 20, 1922, Jerry was the son of Ellsworth and Grace Stroud Tompkins. He was a graduate of Addison Central School. As an adult, he also completed various college level courses. He and the former Frances Mary Brooks were married on June 9, 1946 in Big Flats, NY. She preceded him in death on Dec. 7, 2004. As a young man out of school, Jerry had worked in the oil fields of Pennsylvania and also drove city buses in Corning. In 1951, Jerry went to work at the Ingersoll Rand Co. in Painted Post just for the winter. Over 35 years later he retired from there where he had worked as a painter. He became involved with the administration of the local union and served as President of Local 313 IUE for over 9 years. He also did custom combining work for local farmers for several years. A very active citizen in his community, Jerry served with the Cerebral Palsy Foundation locally as well as serving as a board member of Fingerlakes Health Systems. He was a former member of the Coopers Plains Fire Department and was very active in Democratic politics as a young man. Besides his wife Frances, Jerry was predeceased by his brothers, Myron, Robert and Fred Tompkins and his sisters, Bernice Bebout, Mary Emerson and Margaret Gleason. He is survived by his daughter with whom he made his home, Edyth Tompkins of Coopers Plains, his grandchildren, Isaac Kopetchny, Jonathon Kopetchny, Joseph (Misty) Kopetchny, Kathryn Kopetchny (Michael Warden), Chandan Shah (Nikolas Tethis), Eric Shah, Komal Shah, Adam Tompkins and Daniel Tompkins. There also several nieces and nephews surviving. Jerry was extremely proud of the accomplishments of his grandchildren. Adam earned a PhD in History, Isaac is a graduate of SUNY Geneseo with a degree in Psychology and has applied to the University of Buffalo in a Master's program, Eric studied at Texas Tech in Lubbock, TX becoming a Medical Doctor, Chandan received a degree at the University of Texas in Arlington and is now enrolled in a Master's program at the University of Texas in Dallas, Komal is enrolled at Tarrant Community College in Tarrant, TX, and Daniel is a recent graduate of Addison Central School. Jerry's son in law, Dinish Shah teaches chemistry at Dunbar High School in Ft. Worth, TX and his son in law, William Kopetchny is an RN at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, February 23 from 1-3 PM at the H.P. Smith & Son Inc. Funeral Home, 1607 Main St. Woodhull, NY. Funeral services will be held there at 3 PM with Rev. Brian Diffenbacher officiating. Burial will be in Addison Rural Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to assist with funeral expenses may be made in care of the funeral home. Service: Sunday, February 23, 2014 3:00 PM H.P. Smith & Son Inc. Funeral Home 1607 Main St. Woodhull, NY Visitation: Sunday, February 23, 2014 1-3 PM H.P. Smith & Son Inc. Funeral Home 1607 Main St. Woodhull, NY