Graveside services for Eugene Tompkins, 88, of Livingston, Texas, will be held Monday, January 18, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. in the Massey Cemetery in Livingston, Texas with Bro. Ray Marshall officiating. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. until the service begins in the cemetery.

Eugene Tompkins died peacefully in Conroe Regional Medical Center on Friday in Conroe, Texas at the age of 88.

He is survived by his brother, Arthur Leon (Irene) Tompkins of Mt. Enterprise, TX; 2 sons, Tommy (Patricia) Tompkins, of Fort Stockton, TX; Jack (Sherrill) Tompkins, of Tyler, TX; 2 daughters, Barbara (Bill) Murphy, of Port Bolivar, TX; Sharon (Howard) Scott, of Moore, OK; 4 grandchildren, Karl Wayne (Amy) Young, of Burleson, TX; Jessica (Adrian) Franco, of Dallas, TX; Patrick (Leila) McCullough, of Callicoon, NY; Candace (Lane) Yarbrough, of Port Bolivar, TX; and 4 great-grandchildren: Brandon Young, of Burleson, TX; Averill and Samuel McCullough, of Callicoon, NY; and Gemma Franco, of Dallas, TX.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Ellen Eloise (Evans) Tompkins, son, Wesley Harrison Tompkins, and brother, Sidney Tompkins.

Eugene was born on March 6, 1927 in Manning, Texas to Jack Harrison and Thebie Elizabeth (Massey) Tompkins. As a boy of 17, Eugene answered his Nation's call, and enlisted in the Navy, serving in the Pacific Theater, most memorably as an amphibious craft operator during the invasion of Iwo Jima.

Following the War, he married Eloise (Evans) Tompkins, his devoted wife, friend, and business partner. A shrewd and tireless worker, Eugene used his knowledge of engineering to create and grow a successful tugboat business in Port Bolivar.  Upon retiring, he returned to the region of his birth, settling in Livingston, Texas, where he lived until his death.  Eugene was active in politics, working for Democratic campaigns until the Kennedy Administration drove him to the Republican Party, which he supported in myriad ways until failing health forced him to bow out.

Like many of his generation, Eugene took tremendous pride in raising his children and theirs to places he had been unable to aspire to. He was a lifelong lover of learning, doggedly returning to high school following his war service to earn his diploma, and ensuring that all of his children were able to attend college.

His family remember him as a deeply principled man who will be sorely missed.

Cochran Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign our online guestbook at www.cochranfh.com