Kern County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....Toler, Thomas Wilbert June 28 2004
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K Taylor bluewolf@onemain.com July 7, 2004, 3:18 am

The Bakersfield Californian 
Dr. Thomas Wilbert Toler
Sept. 21, 1914 June 28, 2004

Dr. Toler died suddenly at his home at Rosewood on June 28, 2004. Erma, his 
wife of 67 years, was at his side. 

Tom Toler was born in Guthrie Center, Iowa on September 21, 1914. He was the 
first born son of Ellis and Fannie Toler. In 1923, the family moved to Kansas 
City, Missouri. He grew up there and after high school went to Johnson Bible 
College in Johnson City, Tennessee. He graduated with an AB degree from Alma 
College in Alma, Michigan. He earned his divinity degree from Phillips 
Graduate Seminary in Enid, Oklahoma and later received his doctorate from 
Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri. He also studied at Christian 
Theological Seminary in Indianapolis and Pacific School of Religion in 
Berkeley.

He pastored East Superior Christian Church in Alma, MI and later returned to 
Kansas City to serve at the West Side Christian Church. It was here he had 
been earlier ordained on July 22, 1934. He later served the Ivanhoe and 
Country Club Christian Churches in Kansas City. This was followed at 10 year 
intervals by ministries at Wyatt Park Christian Church in St. Joseph, MO and 
the First Christian Church of Oakland, CA. From 1967 he served as senior 
minister of First Christian Church of Bakersfield, retiring in 1979 as 
Minister Emeritus.

His long ministry included serving as Trustee of the United Christian 
Missionary Society and as Board Member of Homeland Ministries of the Disciples 
of Christ. He also served as an Ambassador of National City Christian Church 
in Washington, DC. As an active community member he served as Kiwanis 
President, a 50 year Mason, and as a founder of Bakersfield Hospice Services. 
During retirement he was interim minister of Valley Christian Church and the 
Church of the Brethren, both in Bakersfield. He also served as Interim of 
Christian Churches in Temple City, Pomona, Burbank, Alhambra and All Peoples 
of Los Angeles. It was also during these years that he and Erma traveled 
extensively throughout the world. His travels gave him great joy.

Tom was predeceased by his daughter Martha Sue and his sister Faye. His is 
survived by his wife Erma, daughter Nancy Norwood and her husband Tom, 
grandsons Tom and Jeff, brother Jay, namesake nephew Tom Toler and wife Anna, 
niece Mary Lynn, cousin Margaret Kennicutt and many other family and friends. 
He was a gracious gentleman whose love and caring touched thousands of lives. 
He leaves us all bereft.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Rosewood Retirement Community, 
1301 New Stine Rd, Bakersfield 93309 or Kiwanis Cal-NEV-HA Foundation at P.O. 
Box 6369, Oakland, CA 94603.

Memorial Services will be held at First Christian Church, Truxtun and N 
Streets in Bakersfield on Friday, July 9 at 2 p.m.

Greenlawn Mortuary Funeral Directors 


Additional Comments:
Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased.

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