Peyton Levi "Tom" Tomlinson, Jr.

     Peyton Levi “Tom” Tomlinson, Jr. passed on to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on June 28, 2024, one day after his 86th birthday. Tom was born in Natural Bridge, VA on June 27, 1938 in the golf house on top of Natural Bridge. He attended Fishburne Military school before joining the United States Air Force in 1957.

     He was known as “Sonny” to his friends and family in Virginia while growing up. Tom retired from the United States Air Force as a Senior Master Sergeant in 1977 after 20 years of honorable service during which he served two tours of duty in Vietnam.

     After retiring from the USAF, he spent the next 20 years as a painting contractor before fully retiring in 1997. During that time Tom married Sandra Kaye “Sandy” Tomlinson and was married for 26 years until her passing in 2008. They had lived in Sherwood, AR until moving to Mayflower, AR, and finally settling in Conway, AR. Tom was a member of the Moose Lodge in Sherwood, and the VFW in Conway.

      He is survived by his son, Darran Perkins, and his granddaughter, Jenna Perkins, both of Lewisville, TX; his daughter, Kelly Anne Winsor Martens and his grandchildren Seth Martens and Hannah Martens of Alberta, Canada. Tom is also survived by his four siblings Charlyne T. Critzer, Christine T. Martin, Paul Tomlinson, and Karen Tomlinson his nephew, David Martin, all from Waynesboro, VA, and his best friend of 65 years, Don Templeton, and his wife Brenda, both of Biloxi, MS.

      Tom is preceded in death by his wife, Sandy Tomlinson, of No. Little Rock, AR, his parents, Peyton Levi Tomlinson, Sr. and Elsie Lewis Tomlinson and sister, Virginia Johnson, and brother, John Tomlinson all of Waynesboro, VA.

      The family would like to thank the staffs at Brookdale Assisted Living and Salem Place Nursing Home in Conway, AR, with special appreciation to Sarah Beaver and the staff at Salem Place for their care and support of Tom and his family during the last year of Tom’s life.

      Graveside service will be held Wednesday, 1:00 p.m., July 3rd, 2024 at Rest Hills Memorial Park Mausoleum, 7724 Landers Rd., North Little Rock, AR 72117 officiated by Chaplain John Goodman. Services by Smith Family Funeral Home-Conway, 1751 Dave Ward Dr., Conway AR, (501-327-5000). Please visit www.smithfamilycares.com, Conway location for guest register and full obituary.