SGM WILLIAM P. TOLBERT To TAPS (UPDATE)

William Paul Tolbert Jr.

7/21/936-11/23/2017

Celebration of life will be on January 6, 2018, at 10:30, Life Center 7801 Hazel Ave. Orangevale, CA 95670. Military honors to be announced later.

Survived by his wife Ann Tolbert, Sister, Wanda Crumpler, Daughter, Susan Tolbert Bucklin and Son William P Tolbert the III.

Bill was born in Morganton, NC and spent his formidable years in NC. At age 14 he was accepted to the Concordia School in Bronxville, NY he went on to Concordia College in Fort Wayne, IN but in his second year he joined the US Armed Forces in 1959. During his time in the service he was in the 82nd airborne finance core and the 101st airborne finance core. Bill served on many continents, to include serving in Viet Nam conflict twice and rose to the rank of Sargent Major before he retired after 30 years in 1989 in Tacoma, Washington. Bill was not one to sit still He volunteered for the Family Readiness group at Ft. Lewis, WA. This group helped families who had deployed members of their families. He also organized monthly get-togethers for a group of his military retired friends to keep them connected. In 1990 he took a job at the University of Washington in the finance office. He was still volunteering and organizing his friends when in 2007 he met Ann from Gold River, CA. So he deployed for his last time to CA and married her. Not one to stand still he endeared himself to his new church Life Center and became leader of the hospitality team (he loved to cook). In 2008 He became President of the Retired Army Finance Non Commissioned officers group which he headed, till the officers and the noncommissioned officers merged in 2016.

On Thanksgiving morning  November 23, 2017 he was called home to be with the Lord.

Member comments:

John Medley:

The Finance corps has lost an Airborne Finance Sergeant Major who has,
time after time, underscored the value of the Finance corps as a
Combat multiplier. His execution of the corps’ mission was always
characterized with continuous improvement that eliminated problems and
increased the quality of Finance support to soldiers around the globe.
The culmination of his achievements was recognized at Fort Lewis when
during his 29th year of service the post CSM recommended and DA
approved an extension of service to 33 years.

Jim Martens:

Glenna and I are very sorry to hear about the passing of Bill. He was a great guy and was a very important leader of RAFINCO. A positive force in the merger of our organization's into today's RAFINO. He will be greatly missed. He and his family are in our prayers.