Albert Julius Toole III

Albert Julius Toole III, (“Bud” to all who knew him), was born on December 1, 1937 in Dallas, Texas, to A.J. Toole, Jr. and Louise Foster Toole. He had an older sister named Anne. Bud grew up in the Highland Park area of Dallas and graduated from Highland Park High School. He attended the University of Texas, where he graduated in 1959 with a degree in Business. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and served as the senior editor of The Cactus, the school yearbook. It was during his time at the university that Bud met the love of his life, Carolyn, and they were married shortly after his graduation.At that time Bud joined the United States Navy and served on a Destroyer ship.

In 1963 God blessed Bud and Carolyn with their first child, son Jay, and then in 1967 a second son, Jim. By this time Bud was transitioning to civilian life, taking a job in finance in Dallas and joining the Navy Reserves. Both Bud and Carolyn came to faith in Jesus Christ through the ministry of Billy Graham. That decision began a journey of faith, service and generosity that lasted for the rest of their lives.

In 1970, Bud and his family moved to Jacksonville, Florida where he served as the Treasurer for Gulf Life Investments. They immediately began serving in various ministry opportunities. In 1973, they, along with four other couples, felt called by God to start a new church, and thus Christian Family Chapel in the Mandarin area came into existence. In 1985 they were again instrumental in starting another new church on the westside of Jacksonville called Westside Christian Family Chapel. Bud served faithfully as an Elder in both churches. During the 1970’s Bud felt called to travel to Iron Curtain countries such as Romania, Hungary and Russia to smuggle Christian literature in and help growing Christians and Christian leaders. One of his most cherished works was to provide financial support for Christians to start their own businesses so they could support their families and Christ’s work in their communities.

In 1984 Bud started his own investment firm called St. John Investment Management. From the start of this new enterprise, Bud designed his role in the firm in such a way that he would be able to travel as much as he could to Soviet Bloc countries and support the believers there financially. He sold the firm in 2000 and remained Chairman Emeritus until 2017. In 1987 Bud and Carolyn moved to Vienna, Austria to help lead Biblical Education by Extension. After returning to Jacksonville, in 1993 Bud, and a friend named John Maisel, started a new ministry called East-West Ministries International. This new ministry would focus more on evangelism and church planting, while continuing to focus on the training of pastors and church planters. The work of this organization continues today from its offices in Dallas, with 350 staff members, 80 of which are deployed overseas in 50 nations of the world. In all of these ministry opportunities, Bud consistently provided a unique combination of vision, organizational skill, personal leadership and financial support. That leadership continued and increased as the Iron Curtain fell, providing greater opportunities for Bud and Carolyn’s influence, especially in Russia. In the ensuing years they traveled extensively throughout Russia, often taking others with them, providing teams of servants in some of the most difficult places in Russia and beyond. This critical ministry continued for them until they were no longer able to travel.

Bud’s final years became a journey of sorrow and trust in the faithfulness of God. In 2021 he lost his son Jim, and then his sister Anne in 2024, then just a few weeks ago his precious wife of 66 years, Carolyn passed into the presence of her Savior. Bud stepped into the presence of the Lord he loved so much and served so well on August 23 of this year. Through the difficulties of their final years together, Bud and Carolyn have been lovingly and faithfully cared for by their son Jay, to whom we are all grateful for his love and care for them. Bud is survived by Jay and two grandsons, Jake and Conor.

A memorial service for Bud will be held on Friday September 12 at 11:00 am at Christian Family Chapel in Mandarin, Jacksonville, Florida. A reception will follow at the church.

In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made to Community Hospice, Redemptive Leadership International (Tim Lusk, rli.world) and Hislight International Ministries (Doug McCary, hislight.org).