Gloria Toombs

Gloria Callan Toombs, long time resident of Uvalde, died on September 27 at the age of 83. She was born June 27, 1927 in Fort Worth and grew up in Menard, Texas, where her pioneering familys ranching history dated back to the colonization of Texas. She attended Menard schools, graduated from San Angelo High School and the University of Texas, and earned her M.A. from Sul Ross State University. For many years, she taught English at Uvalde Junior High School. She also devoted numerous years to teaching Confraternity of Christian Doctrine to adolescents for Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

She married Herbert E. L. Toombs, Jr. on October 6, 1947.

A lifelong Catholic, she was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and until the onset of her illness was a member of the Catholic Womens Club, and an avid and lifelong lover of bridge, extensive reading, going to the family ranch, and beautifying her home and yard. Her greatest joy was the company of her large family which extended from Connecticut to Arizona to Great Britain. She was blessed by numerous friends of many years and many beloved inlaws.

Parade Magazine contributor, author and war veteran James Brady paid tribute to her in his book The Scariest Place in the World, his memoirs of the Korean War, by including in that volume a part of a letter she wrote to him concerning the profound consequences throughout the generations of the loss of her big brother Jimmy whom Brady had known, admired, and written of in the book, and the high cost of war to all families who lose their sons, daughters, sisters and brothers in the greatest sacrifice for ones country.

She was preceded in death by all of her birth familyher parents James and Elizabeth Waring Callan, infant brother Michael John Callan, brothers 1st Lt James Callan III KIA Korea and Judge Samuel Waring Callan, and sister Catherine Biddy Callan Hayden.

She is survived by her husband Herbert Toombs, children Lee and Liza Toombs, Joe and Ann Alejandro, grandchildren Callan Toombs, Bryan and Jeff Hawkes, Kim and John Wright, Dylan and Jennifer Alejandro, Luke and Neva Alejandro, Camille and Max Landman, greatgrandsons Cargil and Lawson Wright, greatgranddaughters Harllie Hawkes, Kaitlyn Gloria and Emily Rebekah Alejandro by numerous nieces and nephews, their children and grandchildren, beloved inlaws, and by her lifelong best friend Kappy Reeves Rickard of Menard.

Rosary will be said at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 7:00 pm.

Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at Sacred Heart on Thursday, September 30 at 2:00 pm. Pallbeares are grandsons Callan Toombs, Bryan and Jeff Hawkes, Dylan and Luke Alejandro and Max Landman. She will be laid to rest at the family cemetery on the Toombs ranch on a future date.

The family suggests that those considering the kind gesture of memorials may wish to make donations to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church Choir, Sacred Heart Catholic School, EWTN network, or the charity of their choice.

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