Robert Edward Tomlinson, Sr.

Robert Edward Tomlinson, Sr. February 14, 1943 – May 8, 2017 Robert Edward Tomlinson, Sr., 74, of Kenly passed away Monday. His funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at Kenly Community Church (formerly Kenly Pentecostal Holiness Church), Kenly. Interment will follow in Buckhorn Cemetery. The Rev. Daniel Rollins and the Rev. Rick Barbato will officiate. The family will receive friends 6:30 – 8:30 Thursday at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson and other times at the home, also preceding the funeral at 1 p.m. at the church. Robert was an educator in the Wilson County School system where he taught drafting, at Fike High School, for several years. Prior to teaching, he was a beloved mechanic who owned and operated Buckhorn Service Center. Robert is survived by his wife of 41 years, Jean D. Tomlinson; daughters, Robyn T. Valentino of Savannah, Georgia, Ginger T. DeLario and husband, Jeff of Haw River; sons, Robert (Bobby) Tomlinson, Jr. of Rocky Mount, Bryan Tomlinson and wife, Ronda of Fort Gratiot, Michigan; sister, Penny Parrish of Knightdale; sister-in-law, Dianne Woods Gidley; daughter-in-law, Christie Tomlinson of Kenly; granddaughter, Sarah DeLario; grandsons, Tim Collier, Dustin Collier, Dakota Tomlinson and Nicklaus DeLario; step granddaughters, Lauren Osgood and Kaitlin Joyner; step grandsons, Ryan and Matthew Vaughn; nieces, Kristy Parrish, Susan Gidley and Mary Gidley Eaker; nephew, David Parrish; great-niece, Caroline Parrish; great-nephews, Nate Eaker and Stephen Parrish. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil Roland and Mona Williams Tomlinson; and a son, Ray “Bull” Tomlinson and first wife, Betty Jean Woods Tomlinson; and brother, Roland (Tom) Tomlinson. Memorials may be directed to Kenly Community Church, PO Box 27, Kenly, NC 27542. Condolences may be directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home at www.joyners.net.