James David Tomlin, 78, of Portsmouth, passed away on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at the Kobacker House in Columbus. He was born on November 23, 1946, in Portsmouth, a son of the late Mary Catherine France and Arthur Thomas Tomlin, Sr.
Jim was a 1964 Portsmouth High School graduate, and he received a Master of Science in Environmental Management from the University of Findlay. He also received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Ohio University-Chillicothe, and an Associate of Applied Science in Chemical Technology from Shawnee State Community College. Jim also held an elementary teaching certificate and had worked as a teacher for several years.
He retired after working 33 years as an environmental scientist at the Piketon Atomic Plant, last working for Bechtel-Jacobs.. He enjoyed his retirement by spending time with his family and attending as many of his grandchildren’s functions as possible. A jokester and a prankster, he enjoyed coffee and conversation every morning with the R.O.M.E.O.s at Coffee @ The Lofts or Tim Hortons. One of his other favorite places was Shawnee Lodge, especially when decorated for the holidays.
Surviving are two daughters, Angela (Ted) Hartley of Panama City, FL and Betsy E. (Jeff) Riley of Minford; four grandchildren, Andrew (Nikki) Hartley, Allison Robinson, Alex (Chelsea) Hartley, and Amanda (Jared) Bennett; five great-grandchildren, Oliver, Cayne, Crew, Penelope and Bear; three brothers, John H. Tomlin of Portsmouth, Robert W. Tomlin of Portland, OR and Charles J. Tomlin of Vicksburg, MS; and three sisters, Sylvia L. Tomlin of Worthington, Anna M. Tomlin of San Francisco, CA, and Carolyn L. Tomlin of Melbourne, FL.
In addition to his parents, James was also preceded in death by three siblings, Arthur ‘Artie’ T. Tomlin, Jr., Mary Lou Mari and Marina O’Connor.
Funeral services will be held at 1 P.M. on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth with Rev. Calvin Ray Evans officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 11 A.M. until the service hour at the funeral home on Saturday.
Contributions may be made in James’ memory to Kobacker House Hospice, 800 McConnell Dr., Columbus, OH 43214.
