Claud "Buddy" Tompkins, Jr., 85, of Beckville, passed away on Thursday night, Aug. 23, 2018, at his home near Beckville. He was born on Nov. 22, 1932, in Philadelphia, PA to the late Claud Tompkins, Sr. and Eva Ruth Sharp Tompkins. He graduated from Beckville High School with the class of 1950, and attended Compton Jr. College in Compton, CA and Brevard Jr. College in Cocoa, FL. Buddy joined the U.S. Navy and honorably served his country from 1951-1955. In 1960, he began working as an electrical technician on the U.S. Space Program at Kennedy Space Center. Upon retirement in 1984, Buddy moved to Beckville from Titusville, FL. He was a member of Youngblood Freewill Baptist Church. Mr. Tompkins was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Everett, Jerry, and Gordon Tompkins.

He is survived by his wife, Marie of Beckville; sons, Steve and Jeff Tompkins of Naples, FL; daughter, Teresa Tompkins and husband Malcolm Cook of Santa Clarita, CA; sisters, Jeanette Evans of Beckville and Regena Millsap of McKinney, TX; grandchildren, Daniel Tompkins-Cook, Cameron Tompkins-Cook, Clare Tompkins-Cook, Stephanie Tompkins, and Andrew Galliher; one great-grandchild, Emilia Maria Ontano; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Carl Anderson and Larry Williams officiating. Interment will follow with Military Honors at Youngblood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Pallbearers are Gary Logan, David Tompkins, Larry Williams, Bryan Darnell, Gordon Gray, and Mike Cardwell.

Honorary pallbearers are Joe Wyatt, Cody Darnell, Terry Glen Tompkins, Charles Bridges, and James Ewing.

Memorials may be made to Youngblood Cemetery Assn., P.O. Box 163, Beckville, TX 75631.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.