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Major Frances “Rusty” Tomlinson, 96, was promoted to Glory July 14 from Portland, Ore.
Tomlinson was born in Montreal, Canada, on March 2, 1916. Her family moved to Portland when she was 7. She attended the University of Oregon, where in 1941 she earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and became a health and physical education teacher.
She accepted Christ in 1942 when one of her students invited her to a Methodist evangelical campaign. She enrolled in the Chicago Evangelistic Institute and earned a second bachelor’s degree in Sacred Literature in 1944, subsequently completing a master’s degree in Religious Education from Western Baptist Seminary.
In 1946 she encountered The Salvation Army. Six weeks later she entered the College for Officer Training in Chicago where she was commissioned with the Warriors Session in 1947.
After serving two years as a corps assistant in Missouri, Tomlinson ministered 29 years in South Africa and Zimbabwe, training teachers for Salvation Army schools. Her appointments in Africa included teaching at the Howard Institute, Usher Institute and Fred Clark Institute high schools, and at The Salvation Army’s training college.
Tomlinson returned to the U.S. in 1972, serving in prison ministry in Portland until her retirement in 1978. Post-retirement, she gave missionary talks, conducted weddings and funerals, preached at her retirement center and neighboring corps, and organized food drives for needy senior citizens.
The Portland Tabernacle Corps held a celebration of life service July 22 with Lt. Colonel Judy Smith officiating. Interment took place at the Riverview Abbey Mausoleum.
Donations in Tomlinson’s name benefiting The Salvation Army’s Usher Institute High School in Zimbabwe may be sent to: Frances Tomlinson Revocable Living Trust, ℅ William R. Meyer, 4207 SE Woodstock Blvd. 401, Portland, OR 97206.
