Christopher Eric Thomlinson of Dahlonega, GA, age 75, passed away on January 5, 2022, at the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, GA, after a three-month illness.

Chris was born in Washington D.C. to Julia McClam Thomlinson and Dr. Chris Thomlinson, Jr. of Florence County, South Carolina.  He was a graduate of Georgia Southern College and held a Master's degree from Georgia Southwestern College.  He served in the United States Air Force as a B-52 navigator, attaining the rank of Captain; he was awarded the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters.  He was married to his college sweetheart and very best friend, Cheryll Ann Searle Thomlinson, for 53 years.  He was a member of the Dahlonega United Methodist Church.  A life-long student of history, Chris chose a career in education and spent his entire career in the Worth County (Georgia) School System, where he taught U.S. History, Psychology, and Economics.  As an unforgettable teacher, he taught with humor, enthusiasm, and a touch of silliness; he was always honored when graduates returned to his classroom to say hello.  He was selected as Star Teacher in 1992.  He enjoyed being busy and, in his younger years, built a home with no hired labor except a crane operator who lifted roof trusses into place.  Approaching retirement, he finished the entire interior of his new home in the North Georgia mountains, including all cabinetry, plumbing, staircase, and wide plank pine flooring on two stories.  Woodworking with hand tools was a source of enjoyment for him and those who received his handmade tables and quilt ladders.  He especially enjoyed gardening on his property on the Toccoa River, where the deep loamy soil was ideal for growing vegetables and flowers.  He also enjoyed dry stone wall building, Eastern Bluebird conservation, cutting firewood, and mowing his grass.  At the close of the day, he could always be found watching the sunset behind the beautiful north Georgia mountains.  Chris enjoyed music and never met a stranger.  He found his greatest joy in his grandson Alex's years of participation in competition fiddling, where he made many friends who shared his love of music, travel, and the encouragement of young people.  As a family trip organizer and statistician, Chris mentored Alex through numerous first-place finishes, as well as the joy of 7 state championships in junior fiddling in the southeast.  Later, as his grandson pursued his master's degree at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, Chris enjoyed opportunities to travel and hear him perform with the choir at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and Princeton University.

Living in Dahlonega provided many opportunities for making music and making friends.  At Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, Saturday jams on the Historic Courthouse Square, and UNG's Pickin' Porch, Chris could be seen with his guitar and his homemade notebook of chords to favorite Old Time tunes.

Chris is survived by his devoted wife, Cheryll Ann Searle Thomlinson; daughter, Jill Thomlinson Goodman; grandson, Alexander Thomlinson; brothers-in-law, Dr. Joe Searle, and Rev. Richard Searle; as well as six nieces and nephews.

A springtime memorial service will be held at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA, with the date to be announced later.  Those who wish to honor Chris' memory may consider a donation to the Georgia Methodist Children's Home or the children's charity of your choice.

To share a memory or a condolence with the family, visit Walt's online guestbook at andersonunderwood.com .

Anderson-Underwood Funeral Home, 2068 Highway 19 North, Dahlonega, GA 30533