Elba Mercedes Tompkins
Photo
Elba Mercedes's obituary
Elba Mercedes Sandín Oñate Tompkins
October 29, 1937 to December 14, 2020
Elba Mercedes was the first child born to Ramon and Elba Sandin. She had siblings Ramon, Jr., Lisbeth and Frances. The family moved around often as her dad was a colonel in the U.S. Army.
She skipped a few grades due to her intelligence. While the family was at Ft. Huachuca, AZ, Elba fell in love with Air Force Pilot Captain Joseph James Oñate. While he was stationed in Iceland, they had sons Joe and Erik. The family moved to Tampa, FL where daughter Yvonne
was born. Tragically, Joe, Sr. was killed in a training mission and Elba was left with three small children. She moved in with her family in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
A couple years later, she met Mike while he was in the Navy. They married and moved to California. Their family was complete in 1974 with the birth of their daughter, Michelle. Elba spent much of the 80s and 90s as a beloved teacher at St. Mel’s Catholic School. She loved her students and enjoyed running into them in the real world.
After retirement, Elba returned to her main passion: reading. She could read a book a day and often did. She enjoyed her second passion of shopping. Oh, how she could shop! However, she was equally as generous. She may have bought multiples of any given item, but she would only keep one for herself and gift the rest for anyone who expressed interest.
Family was the most important thing to Elba. She loved laughing with everyone she knew. She hadn’t an ounce of meanness in her, and she would calm and charm everyone she met with her wit, brilliance and eccentricities.
In death, she joined her first husband, parents, grandparents, her brother Ray and her nephew, Jason. She is survived by her children, her sisters and grandchildren and was joined by Mike in 2022.
Send to someone
Want to stay updated?
Share this memorial website
Share with others
