Hideaway Obituary

Sandra Maye Tompkins

December 18, 1947 - July 4, 2024

Sandi Tompkins was born on December 18, 1947, to Carmine and Nancy Botti in the Scotch-Italian immigrant community of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania. She died on July 4, and her memorial service was July 20.

She graduated in 1965 from Beaver Falls, PA, High School, and her first job was at The New London Day in Connecticut. Sandi later moved west and worked at The Fresno (CA) Bee, where she met her future husband Scott. On June 2, 1974, they both received Christ at a St. Columba’s Episcopal Church service in Fresno. That decision led to dramatic changes in their lifestyle, new vision for their work, and on May 3, 1975, led to their marriage.

Sandi’s writing soared to new heights during this time. She was honored by the Associated Press as the top feature writer in California for a piece about teen suicide. She was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for a series about the dangers of DPT vaccine. Her biggest story came in 1976, when three kidnappers seized a school bus full of kids in nearby Chowchilla, CA, then buried them in an old moving van. She and her co-worker Gail Miller Marshall interviewed the victims’ families, and after the kids escaped, they wrote a best-selling book titled Kidnapped at Chowchilla.

Sandi said becoming a mother was her greatest joy, and the couple had two daughters – Bonnie and Melody – who both now live in Texas. She was widely known for her hospitality, and the family’s large home was often abuzz with guests, church and school events, pets, and parties. The couple joined Fresno’s Valley Christian Center in 1976, and they led ministries to refugees, a home fellowship, and in-home discipleship of 17 young people.

In 1989, they attended a Youth With A Mission Discipleship Training School in Kona, Hawaii, followed by an outreach to China and The Philippines. Afterward, they resigned from their news jobs in Fresno and joined YWAM as missionary communicators.

In Kona, Sandi developed a new teaching gift, leading writers groups and teaching in writing schools. She mentored over 500 students during her career and helped edit 120 books.

She was delighted when Bonnie married Preston Crawford and Melody married her DTS classmate Paul Fillmore. New joy came when Paul and Melody made her a Grandma. She loved spending time with Kaeden (17), Elijah (15), and Arianna (12), and their summer visits in Hideaway were filled with swimming, baking, crafts, games and movies.

The Tompkins have been Hideaway residents since 2011, and are active members of Community Christian Fellowship and local YWAM writing groups. Sandi suffered kidney failure in her final years, but never lost her joyful spirit and devotion to her Savior.

Memorial Services were held at Community Christian Fellowship in Lindale, TX on July 20, 2024. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to Hospice of East Texas.