William "Bill" Tomlinson, son of Samuel James (1914-1956) and Margaret Bement (VanAlstine) (1920-1990) Tomlinson, was born 13 September 1940 Mason, Ingham County, Michigan. Bill's parents divorced when he was young. His mother, Margaret, was daughter to the founder of VanAlstine Meat Packing Company. His father was a former Ingham County, Michigan Deputy Sheriff and one time candidate for Republican nomination for Sheriff in the 1952 primary election. Samuel succumbed to a heart attack at age 41.
Bill's mother remarried Clarence G. Spencer in 1950 and Bill was raised in the Spencer household. Clarence too succumbed to a heart attack in 1965.
Bill graduated in 1959 from Okemos High School. Like his father he too worked in the law enforcement field. And also like his father, he succumbed to heart failure 24 December 2002 Michigan.
Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Tuesday 31 December 2002
TOMLINSON, WILLIAM
HOUGHTON LAKE, MI
FORMERLY OF MASON, MI
Hear Ye! Hear Ye! A great event has taken place in Houghton Lake, MI. William Tomlinson known affectionately as Bill by his many friends has passed from this world on December 24, 2002, to his final reward...to the welcoming arms of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He fought a valiant battle against heart disease for 26 years, but the fabric of his earthly body finally wore out. He was born September 13, 1940 in Mason, MI to the late Margaret VanAlstine and Samuel J. Tomlinson. Bill was a Police Officer for the City of Lansing. After retirement he processed deer in the Houghton Lake area for many years. He was a member of the Lansing Moose Lodge #288. He leaves behind to mourn his passing, his daughter, Sally Tomlinson Lynn and her husband Bobby of Florida; his son, Bryan Scott Tomlinson of Indiana; his brother, Allen James Tomlinson of Michigan; and step-children, Dale Parrott and Teresa Christianson, both from Indiana; and many close friends