Elmendorf Air Force Base suffered a huge loss when Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Tinsley, 45, a well-respected Elmendorf Air Force Base commander and pilot, died July 27 from a self-inflicted gunshot to the chest.

The Air Force Office of Special Investigation autopsy toxicology report released in November found Tinsley had alcohol in his system, but did not have other substances in his system.

Investigators did not find a suicide note or “any other indication this was pre-planned,” the Air Force said in a press release.

Tinsley was known as an intelligent man, compassionate leader, computer geek, rancher at heart, lover of good music, and a man of big faith and bigger love.

Moseley delivered a eulogy about Tinsley in front of 2,000 people July 31 at Elmendorf's Hanger 1.

“I'm a better man because of my association with this guy,” Moseley said. “His personality was extremely magnetic and magnanimous.”

Tinsley's wife, Joanna, called her husband of more than 23 years “Bud” and he called her “JoJo.” She said he had graced her life with love and humor.

“He was a geek,” she said. “But he immediately fell in love with me.”

He brought his wife coffee in bed every morning and told her how gorgeous she was. He must've overlooked her morning breath and hair, she said.

“He held me every night and loved me like it was the first time,” Joanna said.

The Tinsley family's pastor, Dan Jarrell, told the audience that death never makes sense, but Joanna, daughter Eden, nephew Tyler and other family members were finding peace in the shadow of God's wing and in their faith.

Elmendorf's new commander, Col. Thomas Bergeson, took over Tinsley's post in mid-August.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Wednesday, December 31, 2008.