Violet Van Brocklin Tompkins
Harber
Violet Marie Van Brocklin
Tompkins Harber, 87, died Wednesday (Aug. 8, 2007) at Presbyterian Manor in Newton.
She was born to Ira Giles and Jennie Belle (Beers) Van Brocklin on July 19,
1920 at Wakita, Okla. She grew up in Wichita and attended Friends University.
She married Dr. Carl O. Tompkins in Wichita on June 14, 1942. She moved to
Newton in 1953. She was a charter member of the Trinity Heights United
Methodist Church. She was the first president of the Four Winds Girl Scout
Council. She was The Newton Kansan's Woman of the Year in 1960. She served on
the Newton Recreation Commission and was involved with construction of the
Newton Recreation Center in 1974. She was elected to the Newton City Commission
in 1987 and served as mayor of Newton in 1988 to 1989.
She married Robert E. Harber
in Newton on Jan. 17, 1990.
She was an avid golfer, swam,
played tennis and belonged to several bridge clubs. She was a Ladies Golf
Association champion at Newton Country Club,
She is survived by her
husband; children Greg and Susan Tompkins of Newton, Carolyn and James Hunter
of Scott City and Christa and Morris Taylor of Topeka; stepsons, Dale Harber of
Price, Utah, Roger Harber of Augusta and Brian Harber of Savannah, Ga.; seven
grandchildren; three step grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two step
great-grandchildren; a sister, Rosalee Gantenbein of Salina and numerous nieces
and nephews.
She was preceded in death by
two infant brothers; a brother, Nelson Van Brocklin; and sisters Florence
Curtright and Emma Swenson.
Memorial service will be at
11 a.m. Monday at Trinity Heights United Methodist Church in Newton with Rev.
Phil Fischer officiating.
Memorials may be made to the
Newton Public Library, Hospice Care of Kansas, Trinity Heights United Methodist
Church and the American Diabetes Association in care of the Petersen Funeral
Home.
