Dorothy A. Tompkins

Dorothy Ann Tompkins, 89, of Manhattan, passed away Thursday, October 17, 2019. Dorothy was born April 22, 1930, in Garber, OK to Pauline Winifred (Brummett) and William Carl Groneman. The oldest of three daughters, Dorothy grew up on a farm and was active in 4-H. In 1948, she received a national award for her 4-H Farm Safety Project, resulting in a scholarship to attend Oklahoma A & M where she graduated with a BS degree in Home Economics. In, the organic chemistry lab she met the love of her life, Ivan Dean Tompkins. They married on Aug. 23, 1953. Dorothy was an educator. She began her career in Western Oklahoma working with 4-H clubs. After getting married, she worked for the Gas Service Company in Oklahoma City, OK, and Joplin, MO as a Home Demonstration Agent teaching consumers how to use new gas ranges. The remainder of her working years were spent teaching Home Economics to middle and high school students in Lewistown, MO and Kansas City, MO. Her focus was on teaching physically handicapped and developmentally handicapped students. Dorothy attended church all her life and was an active member in the churches she and Ivan attended. In recent years, they belonged to the First Presbyterian Church of Manhattan. She loved to garden, can and sew, and passed these skills on to her daughters and (some) grandchildren. After retirement, Dorothy and Ivan worked estate sales in the Kansas City area and took bus tours around the US. Special trips were taken to Alaska and El Salvador to visit their granddaughter. After living 50 years in Overland Park, KS, they moved to Meadowlark Hills in 2013. Dorothy is survived by her husband, Ivan; two daughters, Paula Sue (Ed Lalor) Tompkins St. Cloud, MN, Diane (Keith) Heikes of Middleton, WI; son, Bill Tompkins, of Wamego, KS; two sisters, Judy Richard, of Bellevue, WA; Willa Dalrymple, of Alhambra, CA; 5 grandchildren Eileen (Matt) McElrath, Andrew (Peiying) Heikes, Margaret Lalor, Amy (Aric) Hageman, and Abbey Heikes; and 5 great-grandchildren Cormac McElrath, Alan Hageman, Adelaide McElrath, Austin Hageman, and Maeve McElrath. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents. A Celebration of Life will be held in the Meadowlark Hills Community Room, Manhattan, KS on November 8, 2019, at 10:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Meadowlark Good Samaritan Fund or the Alzheimer's Association.