Edna Ward Toland

In 1921, Charlene Miller O'Hair was on the train to follow her husband to his next tour of duty. Her labor began while at the station in Louisville, KY. Back in those days, mothers were immediately hauled off to the hospital. In this case, attendants put Charlene on a stretcher while she was still on the train, then found they couldn't get her out the train door. Much to her dismay, she was lifted out the window to the ambulance.

Eventually, mother and child followed Edgar O'Hair to his next Army station in Fort Knox. Edna grew up all over the southern U.S. as well as Hawaii. She attended then all-male University of Florida and graduated in l942 from the University of North Carolina with a degree in chemistry.

She married Sam Gambill in l944. When he was killed in Europe, she went to Little Rock to live with her grandmother. In December of l945, she married Air Force Cpt. Butler Bell Toland in Little Rock. Her two daughters, Brooks and Holly, were born in Colorado and Waco, TX.

As an Air Force wife, she lived in such diverse cultures as England in the early l950's and Saigon in the early l960's. She enjoyed the moving and the necessity of adapting to different surroundings. Her love of learning exhibited itself often, from square dancing to gardening.

She held a deep knowledge of plants and growing conditions in the San Antonio area, where she and her husband settled in l965. She received many years of local recognition for her participation in the Master Gardener Association, and, in 1998, was awarded statewide individual Master Gardener of the Year.

She is survived by husband, Butler; daughters, Holly Toland and Brooks Kasson; grandchildren, Starr and Will Kasson; and great-grandson, Carter Kasson.

For motel reservations, you may contact the Best Western Garden Inn at 210-599-0999 or the Army Residence Community at 210-646-5300.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Bexar County Master Gardeners, 3355 Cherry Ridge, #208, San Antonio, TX 78230. For further information, contact Angel at 210-467-6575.