Barbara Gladys Johnston Tompkins
March 29, 1927 - December 24, 2020
Barbara Gladys Johnston Tompkins, age 93, went to her Heavenly Home to rest in the Arms of Jesus in the early morning hours of December 24, 2020 due to Covid-related pneumonia. Her deep devotion to the Lord, sweet spirit, love of family, and loyal friendship will be greatly missed.
Barbara was born on March 29, 1927, in Atlanta, GA, to Ross Rowan Johnston, a menswear sales professional, and Lillian McClelland Johnston, a homemaker. Barbara attended high school, a popular student and Student Council member. She saw many of her male classmates and friends join the military during the Second World War. As a young adult, Barbara attended Huntingdon College and the University of Georgia.
In 1955, Barbara married Oswald Harley Tompkins in Atlanta, and moved with him to Tampa, FL, where they started a family with the birth of their first daughter, Amy Wynne Tompkins. They relocated to Orlando where their second daughter, Dinah Caroyl Tompkins was born. In 1962, they built a house on Johns Lake near Winter Garden, FL, where Barbara lived the rest of her life until moving into Serenades West Orange in May 2020.
After many years as a homemaker, Barbara began her career with Walt Disney World in her 50s. She began as a Lead at the Contemporary Hotel, eventually transferring to work in Disney Village Marketplace (now Disney Springs). After earning a number of employment awards, Barbara retired from Disney at age 75, having served the company for 25 years.
Barbara enjoyed retirement which included travel to the northeastern United States, Alaska and Hawaii. She visited her daughter and her husband in China in the late 1990s. Barbara was active with Curves, a women's fitness club, well into her 80s. She also briefly served on the Homeowner Services committee for the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
After many years of membership with Oakland Presbyterian Church, Barbara became a devoted part of Cornerstone Community Church in Ocoee, FL for over 30 years. She leaves behind many friends who remember her sweet spirit, love of family, enjoyment of cats, and collection of sheep.
Barbara leaves behind to cherish her memory, daughter Amy Wynne Tompkins (Seifer), her husband Patrick Seifer, granddaughter Abigail Ley Seifer (20), and daughter Dinah Caroyl Tompkins (Carboneau), her husband Eric Stephen Carboneau and granddaughter Eleanor Alexandra Carboneau (31).
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 11am on Saturday, January 2, 2020, at Cornerstone Community Church, 1333 East Crown Point Road, Ocoee, FL 34761. Covid guidelines for wearing masks and practicing social distancing will be observed. The memorial service will be livestreamed on Cornerstone's Facebook page and also recorded for future viewing: https://www.facebook.com/CornerstoneCommunityChurchOcoee
In lieu of flowers, donations to Cornerstone Community Church in memory of Barbara Tompkins are welcome.