Burrl Handon Tolar

Burrl was born on March 1, 1931, in Jasper, Florida, to Nella and Lewis Tolar. He graduated from Madison County High School in 1951 and served in the United States Marines during the Korean Conflict. Afterwards he attended Georgia Tech, graduating in 1959 with a BS in Architecture. While in college, Burrl met Joette Varner from Winter Haven, Florida, and they married on June 16, 1956. In the early years of his career, Burrl was a junior architect in Birmingham, Alabama, a paper mill engineer in Valdosta, Georgia, and then a construction project manager in Atlanta, Georgia. He founded his own company, Tolar Construction, in 1969. Within 4 years, the company grew to a payroll of 80 employees with buildings being constructed in 5 states. During its 35 years of operation, hundreds of buildings were constructed by Tolar Construction, primarily in the Atlanta metro area.

Burrl and Jo joined First Baptist Church of Sandy Springs in 1967. Church played an integral part of their family life where they developed lifelong friendships. Burrl and Jo then became members of Dunwoody Baptist Church where he continued to be active after Joette’s death in 2014.

Burrl and Jo enjoyed traveling throughout their marriage. Early family life always included annual trips to the beach, mountains and visits with family in North Florida. Later in their marriage, Burrl and Jo were able to travel throughout the United States, and he particularly cherished those memories.

Burrl is survived by his daughter Cynthia Cheek (William), David Tolar (Sandy); grandchildren Kaley Hughes (Paul), Clay Tolar (Lauren), Alan Tolar (Andrea) and Steven Cheek; and great grandchildren Emily, James, Handon, Sara, Abby and Lucy. He is also survived by his sisters, Vercie Cason and Udean Williams of Madison, Florida.

Consistent with his wishes, only a graveside service will be held with immediate family in attendance. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Dunwoody Baptist Church Capital Fund, Dunwoody, Georgia.