Benjamin Ray Tomlin

Benjamin Ray Tomlin, 32 years old, of San Diego, California, passed away at home on March 24, 2021. He was born March 29, 1988 in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Barry Tomlin and Judy Tomlin Joiner. He attended Laurel Hills and Norfleet Elementary, Raytown Middle School, Raytown South High School, and graduated from Valley View High School in Blue Springs, Missouri in 2007.

Benjamin was a member of Boy Scout Troop 145 in Raytown, Missouri. He worked at Sonic Drive-In in Blue Springs and was an assistant manager at the 350 Highway location in Raytown. He worked in the Deli department at the Raytown Hy-Vee until enlisting in the United States Navy in July 2010.

After completing Navy basic training at Great Lakes Waukegan, IL, he was assigned to the Assault Craft Unit One-Maritime Raid Force Division in San Diego, CA. There he was responsible for assigning training and deploying assault craft crew operations and exercises. His next assignment was to the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD where he worked with Naval students on seamanship and navigation, while also maintaining boats and equipment. His last assignment was the USS Bonhomme Richard Naval Vessel in San Diego, CA, ending 10 years of Naval service to our country with the rank of Boatswain Mate 2. Following his Naval career, he worked at Kearney Mesa Subaru dealership in the Automotive Department.

Benjamin had a passion for animals. He loved his dogs, saltwater fish, and his reptiles. He enjoyed spending time gaming on his computer with friends all over the country.

Benjamin was proceeded in death by his grandfathers, Leon Tomlin and Ronald Woody, grandmother, Annemarie Fortner, and sister, Brianna Shelton.

He is survived by parents, Barry (Dwenah) Tomlin, Judy (Wray) Joiner, siblings, Katherine (Brian) Spinks, Christina (Jon) Poppe, Brian (Keri) Joiner, Melissa (Matthew) Hendley, CJ (Rachel) Shelton, and Elizabeth (Joe) Yslas, 15 nieces and nephews, 4 great nieces and nephews, Grandparents, Billie Tomlin, Louise Woody, Gladys Smith, Charles Fortner and Mary Lou Cox, ex-wife Kathy Huynh, and girlfriend Liz Rhoades, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who loved him.

Services will be held June 26, 2021 at Newcomber’s Floral Hills Cemetery (7000 Blue Ridge Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64133) at 11:00 am, with a Celebration of Life to follow at Faulkner’s Ranch (10600 Raytown Rd, Kansas City, MO 64134) from 12:00-3:00 pm. Memorial contributions are suggested to either Chain of Hope, or your local humane society in honor of Benjamin’s love of animals.