CHARLES THOMAS TOLER
Died Jan. 6, 2017
Charles Thomas Toler, 84, entered into the presence of the Lord Jan. 6, 2017, at Rex Hospital in Raleigh under the loving care of his cardiologist, Dr. Robert Wesley III, after a long battle with congestive heart failure.
He was born in Craven County to the late Ellen Whitehurst Toler and late George Thomas Toler. He was also the stepson of the late Margie Banks Toler.
After the death of his mother, he went to live with his paternal grandparents, Alex and Susan Carrie Lane Toler in Alliance at the age of 2.
He was raised in Pamlico County with his five uncles and aunts, who were more like brothers and sisters, four of whom preceded him in death, John Toler, Charlie Toler, Louise Toler Sawyer and Joyce Toler Hobbs.
Living with his grandparents, he earned the nickname, "Little Tom."
He attended Pamlico School, and later was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean conflict.
After being honorably discharged from the service, he came to Goldsboro under the GI Bill to study at Crumpler's Business School, and lived at Taylor's Boarding House.
Here he met his business teacher, Velma Lawhon, who later became his wife. Charles loved to tell the story about how Velma asked him to marry him as soon as she saw him because he told her there were not that many Tolers left in the world.
However, it really was a love story at first sight. Charles knew the first time he saw her, he was going to marry her; and Velma knew the first time she saw him, she was going to marry him. After marrying and living in Johnston County until the early 1970s, he became a longtime resident of Wayne County.
Charles was also employed by Cherry Hospital as a health care technician for many years until his first major heart attack, when he had to retire. This began a long journey of heart disease in and out of hospitals for more than 40 years.
He loved people, and never saw a stranger in his life. He was a jokester, and was the life of the party, always keeping people laughing.
Charles and his wife enjoyed traveling with Louise Overbee Tours in Four Oaks until his health declined. He also loved eating at Western Sizzlin in Goldsboro and Holts Lake in Smithfield, where he had his favorite waitresses.
He also loved feeding and watching his birds at home.
Charles spent more than a year at Cherry Point Bay Nursing and Rehab Center in Havelock, where he was the resident council president and made many friends, including special friends, Pam Price of New Bern and Josh Maragni of Havelock. He loved it there because he was close to his family in Craven and Pamlico counties.
After the facility dropped the VA contract, he was transferred to Manor Care of Pinehurst, where he was a resident for the last three months. Here he met the wonderful pastor and congregation of Trinity Christian Fellowship Church of Pinehurst, who adopted him as one of their own, including a fellow veteran and beloved friend, Bob Brown.
Charles was a life member of DAV Goldsboro Post No. 45, American Legion Goldsboro Post No. 11 and VFW Goldsboro Post No. 15034.
He was a longtime member of Riverside Free will Baptist Church in Princeton.
He is survived by his wife of more than 61 years, Velma Lawhon Toler; one daughter, Marcia Lane Toler-McCullen and son-in-law, Charles Randy McCullen of Princeton; one sister, Linda Toler Lupton of Arapahoe; and the family pets, Zac, Spud and Charlie.
He is also survived by two uncles and two aunts, Oscar Whitehurst of New Bern, the Rev. Lee Toler of Alliance, Ella Toler of Bayboro and Polly Whitehurst of New Bern.
Charles is also survived by numerous special nieces, nephews, cousins and loving friends.
He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Roy Bryan Toler of New Bern and Daniel Alex Toler of Arapahoe.
The family would like to say a special thank you to special friends, James and Mary Lois Neel, Penny McCullen and Linda Fields of Goldsboro; his sister, Linda Toler Lupton; his niece, Terry Jones of Smithfield; and cousin Charles Alex Toler of New Bern; for all their love and assistance during Charles' hospitalizations and illness.
Funeral services will be Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, at 2 p.m. at Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home in Goldsboro, with the Rev. Billy Nowell and the Rev. Jerry Campbell officiating.
Visitation will be 1 to 2 p.m. prior to service. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery in Princeton with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Riverside Free Will Baptist Church, c/o Patsy Howell, 1809 Westover Drive, Goldsboro, N.C., 27530, due to the church devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew.
Online condolences can be sent to www.shumate-faulk.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on January 13, 2017 10:01 AM