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MEMORIAL ARTICLE
Published Assembly Sept 2001
ROBERT CHASE TOOLE * '46
No. 15529 * 17 Jul 1924 - 22 Nov 2000
Died in Franklin, IN * Ashes scattered In The Hills Of West (By
God) Virginia |
ROBERT CHASE TOOLE, known to all as Bob, was born
in Delphi, IN. That was his mother's hometown and his father
was the high school principal. The family later moved to Philadelphia
and then to Huntington, WV. His sister, Anne, recalled her brother's
early years: "Bob became a historian as was our father.
We were well educated to be interested and proud of our country.
We never drove through a town that had any kind of historical
spot without detouring to find it. Bob and Dad would start a
discussion on some historical event or person, take opposite
opinions and have a grand and glorious argument. I learned more
history listening to them than in 20 hours of history classes."
Bob graduated from Huntington High School in 1941. He then attended
Marshall College in Huntington. In early 1943, Bob enlisted in
the Army and had been selected for Officer's Candidate School
when he won his appointment to West Point. He joined the Class
of 1946 on 1 July 1943.
Cadet life presented no major problems to Bob. Fellow G-1 Company
classmate, George Hall recalled: "Early in Beast Barracks,
Bob would be stopped by upperclassmen and asked where he hailed
from. Bob would shoot back, 'West, By God, Virginia, Sir.' This
reply seemed to amuse and satisfy the upperclassmen and restored
a modicum of pride to a harried plebe. Bob was an excellent student
with a real penchant for history, finishing at the top of his
class in that subject." When graduation rolled around, Bob
pinned on second lieutenant bars in the Quartermaster Corps.
During the Quartermaster Officer's Basic Course at then Camp
Lee, VA, Bob met and married Anne Clements in Petersburg, VA
on 2 August 1947. His first assignment was with the 82nd Airborne
Division at Fort Bragg, NC. While at Bragg, he was captain and
coach of the soccer team. Then he and Anne went to Japan where
Bob served with the 7th Cavalry Regiment in the Allied Occupation
of Japan. Bob left the Army in 1950 to try his hand at civilian
life.
His first stop was back to his hometown, Huntington, WV, where
he earned his Masters of Arts in History at Marshall University.
In 1951 he went to the University of Pennsylvania to gain his
Ph.D. in History. He then began his career as a history professor.
He taught in several small, quality colleges; Lebanon Valley
College, PA, Knox College, Galesburg, IL, University of Kentucky
at Ft Knox, KY and finally at Franklin College, Franklin, IN
from 1962 to 1986. Early in his teaching career he spend two
years doing research with the Great Northern Railroad in St Paul,
MN. Bob retired from Franklin College in 1986.
Bob began to have health problems. After struggling with diabetes,
heart problems, strokes and even blindness, Bob Toole died on
22 November 2000.
Survivors include his wife, Anne; daughter, Barbara; sons, John
and James; a sister Anne and five grandchildren.
Many friends and family who knew and loved Bob Toole, remembered
the man who so enlightened their lives.
George Hall wrote: "After retirement, Bob indulged himself
in his favorite hobby, philately, winning a number of awards
as well as recognition as an authoritative author on the subject.
Bob was always fun to be with -- both as an intellectual and
as a bon vivant. He was a wonderful friend and will be sorely
missed."
Friend and fellow faculty member at Franklin, Robert Zimmerman
recalled: "I first met Bob Toole (Bobby Bowtie as he was
affectionately known by his students) in 1964. When I arrived
at Franklin, Bob became one of my two mentors. In the 1960s there
was a shortage of teachers and many of us had only our master's
degrees. It would have been easy for us to do our jobs, get tenure
and fade into he sunset without getting our terminal degrees.
But Bob prodded me, he continually reminded me, that if I were
going to stay in this business I'd better 'go first class' and
get that 'terminal degree.' He was right. For all he did for
me I shall ever be grateful. Although he was quite a few years
my elder, I shall always consider him to be one of my most influential
mentors and dearest friends. I will miss him."
Bob's entire family wrote the eulogy delivered at his memorial
service. Excerpts from that eulogy reflect their love and respect:
"He touched your life. With his life and love. He shared
his life. He was a wise man. He was a studious man. Today death
does not gather us together. But life. Today we celebrate important
moments where his life touched our lives. Today we celebrate
the loving moments that continue to make a difference in our
lives. Bob at home smoking. Sharing with his family. Reading
three full sets of encyclopedias even underlining them. Collecting
stamps, a collection of 128,000. The man that could do almost
anything and did. It could be intimidating. Remember. Celebrate
and give thanks. For you have been touched by seventy six years
of the life and love of Robert, 'Bob' Toole."
Our classmate would be proud to hear the Class of 1946 say those
few words that would mean so much to him: "Well Done, Bob;
Be Thou At Peace!"
'46 Memorial Article Project and his family
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