Centennial wedding anniversary scheduled

RITZVILLE – Although Harry M. and Mary (Kissler) Tompkins passed away over three decades ago, their children and grandchildren keep their memory alive by routinely celebrating the couple's wedding anniversary.

"We've had a family reunion picnic the first Sunday in August to celebrate their anniversary for as many years as I can remember, usually at the Ritzville City Park," granddaughter Vernita Coffey said.

This year will be especially memorable. "We are honoring their love with a special celebration for the 100th wedding anniversary," Coffey said.

Born in Newport, Idaho, in December 1903, Harry Tompkins proposed to Mary Kissler before his twentieth birthday. His bride, born in Russia in March 1908, she had moved to Odessa, Wash., with her family in 1912.

She was a teenager, as well.

The young couple wed on Aug. 6, 1923, and remained married for the next 62 years until Harry's death in February 1986 at the age of 82. Mary passed away the following year.

The couple spent their first year of marriage in Clarkia, Idaho, at the homestead of Ira, Harry's father.

Over time, the marriage produced six children: three sons and three daughters.

They eventually moved to Hatton, then Ritzville, where many extended family members still reside.

Coffey recalls playing on swing sets with her cousins near the Ritzville pool just a few blocks from where her grandparents lived.

"When the noon whistle blew, the kids knew it was time to dash home to Grandma's house at Tenth and Washington for lunch," Coffey recalled. "There would always be a table set outside the kitchen window for us. Grandma and our aunts would have sandwiches, Kool-Aid, and chips ready.

"Even today when that noon whistle blows, I get teary remembering those happy times," she said.

Harry Thompkins was a skilled carpenter, but he liked working in law enforcement even better. From 1956 to 1969, he served on the Ritzville police force.

As a rookie cop, Thompkins often worked the night shift. His duties involved checking on downtown businesses and writing tickets for parking violations.

But his wife felt sorry for folks who hadn't shoved sufficient coinage into parking meter slots.

"Grandma and I would go downtown with him. She'd put money in the meters before Grandpa arrived to issue a ticket," Coffey recalled.

Thompkins served as police chief for his final nine years on the police force before retiring in his mid-60s.

Coffey spoke enthusiastically about the upcoming reunion/celebration.

"A photographer will be on hand to record the event, and photos of their six children and grand, great; great, great and great, great, great-grandchildren will be displayed," she said.

The gathering will start at 9 a.m. A photo session at 11 a.m. will be followed by a potluck when the noon whistle blows.

"We are very blessed to have such a large family - all because these two people fell in love," she said. "I believe our grandparents and their children would be pleased."