Mr. Tolbert was born March 30, 1920, in Canton, GA, the son of the late Brodie Forrest Tolbert and Eula McClure Tolbert. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by children, Mark, Margaret Ann, twins, Mary and Elizabeth, and Jackie Tolbert and brothers, Mack, Frank and Robert Tolbert.
Mr. Tolbert was the first employee and later plant manager for Trend Mills. He travelled to Brussells, Belgium to open and operate two carpet plants for four years, and found the site for the third plant in Scotland before returning to the U.S. Upon returning from Belgium, he served as plant manager at the Trend Plainville Plant for 11 years from March 9, 1970 until March 20, 1981. After leaving Trend, Mr. Tolbert owned and operated Valley Grain Company in Cedartown.
Mr. Tolbert was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U. S. Navy for four years, and was the recipient of eight medals and ribbons. He participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea and two battles at Midway and served on the USS Yorktown, until orders to abandon ship after being torpedoed and downed on June 6, 1942. He received a flag from U. S. Rep. Phil Gingrey which flew over the U. S. Capitol.
Mr. Tolbert was a communicant of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where he served as usher, lector and member of the Parish Council. He was also a member of the Rome Exchange Club for 41 years, and was honored with a plaque for those years of service. He also served as president of the Coosa Valley Fair Association. He was past president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, former Exalted Ruler of the Rome Elks Club, president of the Coosa Country Club, and a member of the Shanklin-Attaway Post No. 5 of the American Legion.
Survivors include his wife, Kathleen Gloer Tolbert, to whom he was married Oct. 14, 1950; one son, Michael Tolbert, Mooresville, NC; three grandsons, Thomas, Andrew and Brian Tolbert; one sister, Mary Doster, Rome; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The funeral mass will be held Tuesday, June 1, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Rome, with Father Patrick Kingery officiating. Interment will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, at the East View Cemetery with the Honor Guard of the Shanklin-Attaway Post. No. 5 of the American Legion in charge of military rites.
Pallbearers will be Bobby Youngblood, Charles Rocquemore, Rob Youngblood, Bob Doster, Bill Doster and Stuart Near. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Rome Exchange Club.
The family will receive friends at a reception in the Parish Hall of St. Mary’s Church on Tuesday, June 1, following the funeral mass from 12 noon until 1:30 p.m.
Those wishing may send memorial contributions to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 911 N. Broad St., Rome, GA 30161 or to Heyman HospiceCare, P. O. Box 163, Rome, GA 30162-0163.
Daniel’s Funeral Home, Rome, GA
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