EDWARDS — Robert Newman Tompkins died Monday, April 16, 2012, at River Region Medical Center. He was 78.

A lifelong resident of Hinds County, he retired as an investigator for the Mississippi State Board of Health. He was a veteran of the Air Force, serving in the Korean Conflict, and he was a member of Warrenton Independent Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Aline Puckett Tompkins; a daughter, Joni Tompkins McMillin in 1991; a son, Robert Daniel “Bob” Tompkins in 2005; brothers, Earl Tompkins Jr. and Cecil Archie Tompkins; sister, Joyce Tompkins Barnett; a granddaughter, April Tompkins Roskowski in 2002; and a great-granddaughter, Kara Leigh Darby in 2011.

Survivors include his wife, Aillene Case Tompkins of Edwards; three sons, Robert Gregory Tompkins of Wesson, Timothy Clay Tompkins of Vicksburg and Russ Noel Carraway of Clinton; two sisters, Emma Sue McNair of Raymond and Alma Dean Brantley of Utica; one brother, John M. Tompkins of Edwards; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Glenwood Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Marvin Curtis officiating. Interment will follow at the Bethesda Cemetery in Hinds County. Visitation will be from 5 until 8 tonight at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Lance Tompkins, Thad Greer, Bill Walker, David Thomae, Mark Smith and Danny Smith.