Tommy Harman Tompkins, 72, of Riverton passed away on June 04, 2025, while the love of his life, Laura Murray Tompkins, held his hand.
Mr. Tompkins was born on Nov. 4, 1952, in Washington, DC, the son of the late Albert Dozier Tompkins and Lucille Harman Tompkins and raised by his late grandparents, Curt and Beulah Harman.
He attended the former Dixie Elementary School in Riverton and graduated from Circleville High School with the class of 1970. He attended the University of Maryland, the General Motors Automotive Technical School, and the Rets Technical Training Center of Baltimore, Maryland.
He started his career at Hawkins Sunoco where he became a station shift manager. He then accepted a position as a bank teller with the Suburban Trust Company in Hyattsville, Maryland, next a position at the security department at Montgomery College in Montgomery County, Maryland, and became the supervisor of the Germantown Campus, in Germantown, Maryland. During this time at Montgomery College, he was simultaneously attending the Rets Technical Training Center, and he formed the Adams Refrigeration Company. Wanting to return to his roots, he relocated to Riverton and opened Allegheny Mechanical Services where for the next 25 years he served his community as a heating and refrigeration service technician. He helped at the Seneca Rocks climbing wall, which was never really a job but a joy for him.
He had a great love for dogs and had several German Shepherds during his life. Knowing the pain of losing a beloved pet, he served as a volunteer internet grief counselor for people who had lost pets and were having difficulty with that loss. He developed many friendships through his counseling. He also created a podcast that had a national audience where they discussed anything from carpentry projects to the latest political topic.
He was a member of the Edgefield, South Carolina, Historical Society (his dad’s hometown) and a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
During his life, he was a major history buff with a large focus on the Civil War era. He loved to hunt, fish, garden, restore antiques, pitch horseshoes, and play darts. Friends from his younger days will recall he had a great love for muscle cars and Beatles music.
He was married to his wife, Laura Murray Tompkins, for 45 years, who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Joshua Harman Tompkins (Lurenda) of Davis; a grandson, Jay Wright Tompkins of Elkins; a brother, Jim Tompkins (Beverly) of Petersburg; and several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by his infant son, Justin Harman Tompkins; and grandparents, Glover and Emmie Tompkins.
Funeral services were held Monday at the Riverton United Methodist Church in Riverton with Pastor Larry Hakes officiating. Interment was at the North Fork Memorial Cemetery in Riverton.
Memorials may be made to the Edgefield County Historical Society, PO Box 174, Edgefield, SC 29824.
Memories and words of comfort may be left at www.basagic.com or on Facebook at Basagic Funeral Home.
