I’m sharing my daddy’s obituary today.
Bobby Gray Toler, age 85, stepped into Heaven Wednesday afternoon from his home, surrounded by his family. Born October 15, 1935 in Johnston County, he was a son of the late Richard Leslie and Agnes Toler. His older brother, Delton Toler, and an infant sister, Clara, predeceased him. Bobby served in the US Army Infantry from November, 1958 through November, 1960 where he was stationed in Aschaffenburg, Germany and then transferred to the US Army Reserve.
He was a longtime member of the Princeton Baptist Church where he and his wife began and taught the Young Adult Spirit Seekers Sunday School class for many years. He also served as Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent and on numerous committees. With his wife, Bobby began the Prison Ministry at Princeton Baptist and enjoyed cultivating relationships with many inmates at the Johnston Correctional Facility. He participated with several mission trips including ones to Honduras, Poland, and Alaska and helped build many wheelchair ramps all over Johnston County.
For his community, Bobby served as a Boy Scout leader and as a Gideon with The Gideons International. He was proud to witness his son and four grandsons achieve Eagle Rank in scouting. He happily welcomed another Eagle Scout when his grandson-in-law joined the family.
A lifelong farmer on his family farm, Bobby also worked hard to support his family with jobs at T.A. Loving, the General Electric Company, and A.P. Parts, all of Goldsboro. He enjoyed traveling, reading and soaking up knowledge, laughing, and being with his large family.
Out of an abundance of caution, a private funeral service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 20, 2020 in Princeton Baptist Church and live streamed on the church’s Facebook page with his son, the Rev. Richard Toler and the Rev. Dwayne Batten officiating. His daughter, Hope Toler Dougherty, will provide his eulogy. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the Princeton Cemetery and at other times at his home, 309 Toler Road, Princeton.
Surviving are his loving wife of almost 65 years, Auline Thompson Toler; daughter, Hope and her husband Kevin of Smithfield; son, Richard and his wife Jennifer of Princeton; grandchildren, Anna, Hattie, Lane, and Quinn Dougherty; Sarah (Jonathan) Hartley, Daniel, Will, and Gray Toler; great grandsons, Paul Toler and Gideon Hartley who is due to be born in February.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks to consider The Ramp Ministry of the Princeton Baptist Church, P. O. Box 215, Princeton, NC 27569, The Gideons International, or a charity of your choice.
The family extends heartfelt gratitude to caregivers, Shands Lamb, Alice Williams, and Katie Darden for providing excellent and loving care for the past two years.
As much as the family rejoices that Bobby is celebrating Christmas in Heaven this year, we covet prayers for navigating this life without him. We love him. We miss him. We will see him again.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.parrishfh.com.
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