Altheda R. Tomberlin, 85, of Irwinville, died Friday, December 27, 2013 at Phoebe Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald.
Graveside services will be held 2 PM, Tuesday, December 31, 2013, at the Warwick United Methodist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Sonny Pate and the Rev. Dr. Drew Tomberlin officiating. The family will receive friends from 6-9 Monday evening at the funeral home in Ocilla.
Mrs. Tomberlin was born January 22, 1928, in Warwick to the late Roy & Ivie Mae James Raines. She attended Irwinville High School and later earned her GED. She received her nurse’s training in the Ocilla Hospital working with Drs. Dismuke, Willis, McElroy, and Sams. In addition to Ocilla, she worked at Battey State TB Hospital in Rome and the hospital in Bremen. Mrs. Tomberlin traveled with her husband throughout his career in the Air Force and worked at nursing homes throughout the United States as well as in Hawaii. Her husband’s duty assignments included Robins AFB and Turner AFB in Georgia and military installations in Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Hawaii, Washington state, and finally Virginia where Mr. Tomberlin retired while at Langley AFB. A dedicated wife and mother, Mrs. Tomberlin lived the tough life of a military wife with dignity and perseverance. She returned to Irwin County in 1981 following her husband’s retirement. She was of the Methodist faith and was co-owner/operator of the former A & J Trucking Company in Irwinville, where she earned the CB handle, Lady Cadillac.
She is survived by her husband of 61 years: William James “Jimmy” Tomberlin of Irwinville; her children and their spouses: Watheda & George E. Terry, Jr. of Hampton, Virginia, James F. “Fredie” Tomberlin of New York, New York, William James Tomberlin, Jr. of King George, Virginia; a step-daughter: Helga Davis of Skagway, Alaska; two step-grandchildren: Kevin Goodrich of Alaska and Lisa & Chris Moore of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; and two step-great-grandchildren: Madelyn Moore and Kaden Moore. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a grandson: Robert E. Terry as well as four brothers and two sisters.
The family suggests those desiring to send memorials may send them to the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Humane Society, 106 Lions Park Road, Fitzgerald, GA 31750.