Richard D. “Dick” Tomlinson, 80, of Seneca, KS, died Tuesday evening, July 1, 2008 at Life Care Center in Seneca.

He was born July 15, 1927, on a farm northeast of Corning, KS, the son of Clyde and Mary E. Neighbor Tomlinson. He attended Corning public schools, graduating from high school in 1945. After graduation, on June 27, 1945, Dick enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served as a cook at the Naval Air Station in Alameda, CA. and was discharged October 7, 1947.

After his discharge he returned to Goff, KS, where his parents lived. He then attended Central Radio School in Kansas City, MO for a year, where he learned repair for radios and other electronic equipment. He returned to the Corning area and married Barbara Wilson in June 1950 in Holton. They operated the Tomlinson Hardware Store in Corning. She preceded him in death on May 25, 1966.

On May 4, 1968, he married Helen Malloy Lang at Corning. They lived in Seneca after he closed and auctioned off his business in Corning. In Seneca, Dick worked for Ed Wassenberg Construction Company. In 1979 he had a stroke and since then has been unable to work due to ill health. His wife Helen died on January 12, 2004.

He was a member of the American Legion Posts in Seneca and Corning for 60 years.

Survivors are a son, Rick Tomlinson of Phoenix, AZ; two daughters, Linda Fletcher of Paola and Brenda Beard, Germantown, TN; three stepsons, Ron and Tom Lang, both of Topeka, and Randy Lang of Seneca; a stepdaughter, Paulette Grollmes of Seneca; two sisters, Frances Johnstone of Centralia and Sarah Brown of Wetmore; nine grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; nine step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren.

Besides his wives, he was preceded in death by a son, Jim Tomlinson; two brothers, Boyd Tomlinson and James Tomlinson; and two sisters, Helen Schleif and Joan Schleif.

The funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Monday, July 7, at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. Family will meet with friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the services. Inurnment will be in the Corning Cemetery, with full military honors by the Seneca and Corning American Legion and V.F.W.

Memorials may be given for the Veterans Wall, and sent in care of the family.