Edward Madison Tompkins Jr.

Edward Madison Tompkins, Jr. passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. He had been ill for some time but met each day with cheer and his usual grace, and was attended with much love by his family. We were blessed to have him in our lives.

Born March 12, 1934 in Homer, LA to Pauline Barnes Tompkins and Edward Madison Tompkins, the family later moved to Oklahoma City, OK. He graduated from Capitol Hill High School, Class of ‘52. He attended Oklahoma A & M (now OSU) with the ROTC, graduating in 1957 before serving in the Navy. It was near the end of his active duty that he met and wooed his future wife, Agnes Sproha. They began their lives together in Denham Springs, LA before relocating to Salisbury, NC in 1966, raising four beautiful children. They made a home. The two were together for nearly 50 years before her passing.

Sometime later Edward ran into Arda Penny at a high school reunion; they had attended Capitol Hill one year apart and shared many common memories and friends. After a long-distance courtship the two married in 2010 and settled down in Oklahoma City—but kept one foot in NC. To the marriage Arda thoughtfully provided her own beautiful and extensive family. In 2016 the couple decided to make Salisbury their permanent home and there they stayed. Their time was filled with laughter.

An avid golfer, Edward agreed a bad day on the golf course beat a good day anywhere else. He loved the time spent with his golf buddies, ‘swapping tales and telling lies’. When not on the links he honed his woodworking skills, building everything from bookends to grandfather clocks with equal attention to detail and craft. But life wasn’t just about golf and the shop. He had a home to tend and nothing was beyond his ken: Over the years he mastered electrical, plumbing, drywall, floor refinishing, painting; designed and built two porches, laid a patio, paved the front and side walks, built a glass front door and then, because it was a little bland, designed and created a stained glass window. His home was truly his canvas.

In passing, Edward joins loved ones who have gone before him: Agnes, his parents, and his sister Elinor to name but a few.

Yet he leaves behind Arda; his children Donna, Carol, Susan and David; a son-in-law Ronnie and daughter-in-law Kim; grandson Jacob and his wife Zoe, great grandson John Edward; step-son Randall and his daughters and their families: Kourtney, Sam and their three daughters, Sarah and Ian, Deneith, Penny, and Madisun; a brother Mike and his wife Karen; a sister Beverly; step-granddaughter Sabrina, her husband Gary and their boys; nieces and nephews, and so many other friends and extended family.

He touched countless lives, shaped us and made our world a richer place with his wit, charm, patience, ability to keep his own counsel, talent for working a room, and perhaps most importantly, the facility with which he could over-engineer a solution to the simplest of problems.

Ed; Eddie; Dad; Grandad; Great-Grandad; Grampa Ed; Uncle Ed—we love you and will miss you, but we’ll see you again. Tell everyone we said ‘Hi!’

We will be celebrating Edward’s life at 2:00 pm Thursday, April 11, 2024 at Oakdale Baptist Church located at 200 Charles St., Spencer, NC 28159. Please join us. And in lieu of flowers we hope you will consider donating to a charity close to your heart.