Wilbur Tolbert's Obituary
Wilbur “Will” Norman Tolbert, 90, of Trinity, Florida, finished his earthly journey on November 26. Will, the ninth of ten children, was born in Fayetteville, Pennsylvania on October 4, 1924, to James Clifford and Edith Brookens Tolbert. He attended Fayetteville Grammar School, where he gained recognition for perfect attendance, and graduated from Chambersburg High School, in spite of leaving during his senior year to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps. From 1943 to 1945, during World War II, he served in the Asiatic Pacific.
He met his sweetheart, Jeanine Cummings, at Brigham Young University and the two married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1951. In 1953, he graduated from BYU with a degree in Sociology, after which he engaged in his thirty- year career as a marketing manager with Phillips Petroleum. He and Jeanine moved to Florida in 1990 where they enjoyed days in the sunshine swinging their golf clubs, and
solemn moments serving in the Orlando Temple. After another relocation in 2000 to St. George, Utah, the two worked in the St. George Temple. During their time in Utah, the two accepted an eighteen-month missionary assignment in Mollala, Oregon, which became one of the most joyous experiences of their entire lives. In 2012, he and Jeanine returned to Florida to be near family.
When he was not on the golf course or in the service of his church, Will enjoyed a variety of past times, including fishing, personal family history, and computers. He owned amazing woodworking skills and generously shared his handsomely crafted wares with friends and family, and his photographs, many of which he took in the 1940’s and 1950’s, rival those of professional photographers. When he picked up paintbrushes and dabbed them in oils, he demonstrated an innate ability to put beauty on canvas, and when he determined to pen his life history, little did he know that the telling of his stories and the inclusion of photographs would comprise a three-volume set. In addition to writing about his family and his service to his church, he expounded on the benefits of his Republican Party membership, professed his patriotism, and extolled the virtues of integrity, strong work ethic, and honor. Will was a proud Marine and held life memberships in the VFW, American Legion, and NRA.
He is survived by his wife; children: Karen (Vaughn) Jones of Odessa, FL, Valerie Banfield of Trinity, FL, David (Anita) Tolbert of Columbus, OH, and Joyce Tolbert of Chatsworth, CA; grandchildren: Shelly Kavulla, Jennifer Perkins, Christopher Smith, Jeremy Holmes, Chad Holmes, Tom Tolbert, and Stewart Jones; eight great grandchildren and a brother, Max (Kathryn) of St George Utah.
The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the staff at Life Care Center of New Port Richey and Gulfside Hospice for caring for Will during his last days as an Alzheimer’s patient.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 1 at 2:30 at the Odessa Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with calling hours one hour before the service. Arrangements are by Trinity Memorial Gardens, 12609 Memorial Drive, Trinity, FL 34655.
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