B.C. “Skip” Tumlinson, age 87, of Early, Texas formerly of Slaton, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus with his family by his side on Thursday, April 25, 2024.
Visitation will be Wednesday, May 1st from 6-7pm at Englunds. Funeral services will be at 10:30am on Thursday, May 2nd at the First Baptist Church in Slaton. Burial will follow at Englewood Cemetery under the direction of Englunds Funeral Service of Slaton.
Skip was born on September 28, 1936, to his parents Melvin and Willie Mae (Seal) Tumlinson in San Angelo, Texas. He was the oldest of two children and a sixth generation Texan whose family was part of the original “Old 300” settlers who came to Texas in 1821.
Skip and his family moved to Slaton in February of 1949 where his dad hired out with the Santa Fe Railroad. Slaton was home for the next sixty-four years until he and his wife moved to Early in 2013.
Skip attended Slaton schools from the sixth grade on and graduated from Slaton High School in 1955. All throughout school and many years after, Skip always worked and wanted a job. From chopping cotton, working in grocery stores, in the oil field and on the railroad, even selling cars, he eventually found his passion in becoming a firefighter. These various jobs and great mentors throughout his life helped shape who he was and help establish his strong work ethic. He even served in the Naval Reserve for six years.
On July 26, 1957, Skip married the love of his life Norma Jan Corley. They celebrated nearly fifty-seven years of marriage until her passing in 2014. He and Norma were blessed with two children; Michael Ray and Donna Kay.
In 1968, Skip hired on with the Lubbock Fire Department full time and was employed at Station #4 his entire, twenty-six- year career until his retirement in 1994. He was working the night of the devastating Lubbock tornado in 1970 and was tasked with his fellow firemen in search and rescue operations. During his career, Skip also received recognition from the City of Lubbock for saving the life of a fellow firefighter during a routine fire run. A recognition he humbly downplayed as doing what he was trained to do.
Skip was known for his dry wit, sarcastic humor & friendly personality. He made everyone feel like they were his favorite. He never met a stranger and was sentimental and nostalgic in many ways. He loved life and he loved to work in his yard “piddling” and especially caring for his many pecan trees, but his most cherished thing was loving on and being loved by his family and grandkids, who affectionately called him Pop & Pop T!
He loved his hometown, the Slaton Tigers and also his Texas Longhorns! If ever there was a dedicated football fan, Skip was it. He bled burnt orange. Some people even kidded him years ago that he died his hair burnt orange. He would often give people the “hook ‘em horns” sign, especially to those Red Raider fans.
Unbeknownst to most people, Skip was an avid WWII historian and book collector. He read & compiled a personal collection of several thousand non-fiction WWII books and periodicals. He also loved the music of that era as well, listening to the likes of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey and many other Big Band orchestras.
Skip was also involved in the community. He had served on the Slaton School Board, the Slaton Booster Club, coached Little League baseball, and also worked for the City of Slaton for a few years after retirement. He was also a member of the Slaton Volunteer Fire Department for twenty-six years, where he served as assistant chief for many of those and established many life-long friends & memories. He was named Fireman of the Year in 1982. Several of his proud moments with the department included the restoration of their red, 1940 model Ford firetruck, the Monday night fire practice “sessions” and probably his daily treks each morning to the fire station in his beloved ’79 model Ford truck, “Old Brownie”, to have coffee and “shoot the bull” with some of the crew.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Norma, brother Carlton “Corky” Tumlinson, and his grandson Evan Andrews.
He is survived by his son Mike (Mona) Tumlinson of Early; daughter Donna (Danny) Andrews of Granbury; Grandkids: Andrea (Ben) Hughes of Tomball; Matt (Allison) Tumlinson of San Antonio and Melissa (Garret) Avalos; Great Grandkids: Hudson & Pierson Hughes, Jack & River Tumlinson and Anson & Corley Faye Avalos.
Also, our special love and affection to our “extended family”. The wonderful and caring people and staff at Redstone Park Assisted Living Facility and Interim Hospice Care in Brownwood for their daily outpouring of love and care for our dad.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials or donations be made to the Slaton Harvey House Association or the Slaton Volunteer Fire Department.