Gene Ray Tompkins

Gene Ray Tompkins, 93, of Avon Park, Florida, completed his journey on earth on September 3, 2026.

Born on July 27, 1933 in Corbin, Ky, he was the son of the late Bessie Messer Tompkins and William Tompkins.

He was a founding member of Cornerstone Christian Church of Avon Park where he served as a Deacon and church treasurer. He dearly loved his church family and looked forward every Sunday to attending.

He graduated from Corbin High School in 1951, where he was active in the school band, earning first chair playing Coronet, sang in the choir, was president of the Dukes club for 4 years, and was a staff member of the school newspaper. He also sang in a quartet that performed weekly on the radio, and played taps for local veterans military funerals. He worked as a lifeguard at various summer camps and state parks, which he continued to do into his adulthood, having at last count, saved over 300 lives.

After high school, he attended Eastern KY State Teachers College, which is now Eastern University, where he continued singing in the choir and playing Coronet in the band, and swimming on the varsity swim team. Upon graduation, he earned a degree in science and physical education. Shortly after college, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving on the troop transport ship, the USS Noble, where he toured the Far East for two years.

In 1958, he began his teaching career at Bracken County High School in Brooksville, KY, where he taught biology and chemistry. He was also assistant basketball coach and drove a school bus whenever they needed a driver. He earned his Master's Degree and Rank 1 from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Oh and in 1973 became principal at Western Hills Elementary School. In 1974, he became assistant superintendent of the Bracken Co school system and held this position until his retirement in 1992.

Gene was an avid fisherman, loved hunting and photography where he developed his own black and white pictures, wrote published articles for a fish and aquarium magazine, served as an EMT, managed the local public swimming pool where he taught swimming, water safety, and life saving. He was able to program computers when they were a new item and was the first to introduce them into the school system. After retirement, he was hired by the school to maintain and reprogram the schools computer system. He was a Kentucky Colonel.

Gene is survived by his wife of 47 years, Nancy Kay (Haughaboo) Tompkins, two sons, Brent Tompkins of Villa Hills, KY, Dr. Brice Tompkins of Estero, FL, a daughter, Tricia Ann Routt of Brooksville KY, two stepsons, Mark McKenzie of Wilton Manors, FL, and Brian McKenzie of Newport,KY, one sister,Judy Grove of Corbin, KY., grandchildren, Chloe, Halle, and Brady Routt, Easton, Torren, Ian, and Novel Tompkins, several nieces and nephews and a special dog, Charlie.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, James Tompkins, two sisters Helen ( Tompkins) Martin and Shirley (Tompkins) Barker and a stepdaughter, Tina Beth McKenzie.

A memorial service will be held at his church in the near future.