Helen and Earl Toone Jr.

January 23, 2020

Surfside – Helen Esther (Wyatt) Toone (77) and Earl Christopher Toone, Jr. (79), long-time residents of Surfside Beach, SC, and previously of Bethesda, MD, died this January 2020. Earl died January 23rd at Conway Medical Center. His beloved wife, Esther, died Thursday, January 30th at their home surrounded by family. Helen Esther was born in Dublin, Georgia and graduated from Dudley High School. Esther met Earl at a military dance in Warner Robins and the two were married in July 1963 in Georgia. Shortly thereafter they relocated to Earl’s home in Bethesda, MD where they raised their son Bruce. Esther began work in personnel at the Defense Mapping Agency in Glen Echo where she retired after 30 years as the head of Personnel. During her tenure, she received a Presidential performance award for outstanding work in her field. Born in 1940 in Glen Echo, Maryland, Earl graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School then went on to serve in the United States Air Force. He later worked for A&P Grocery stores and the US Postal Service as a mail carrier. Earl retired from the Postal service after 25 years of service. In addition to their full-time jobs, Esther & Earl managed real estate investments and were also devoted members of The Palisades Community Church in Washington, DC where they enjoyed working in community service. After retirement, Esther & Earl moved to their dream home in Surfside Beach, South Carolina where they played golf, were involved in community activities, travelled the world with family and friends, and dedicated much of their time to mission work through their Church and with Habitat for Humanity. Earl and Esther are survived by their son and daughter-in-law, Bruce and Amanda Toone, of Darnestown, MD; two Grandchildren, Steven Toone and Jessica Toone; Earl’s sister, Helen Frank of Surfside Beach, SC, and Esther’s sister Carolyn Janelle Sapp of Warner Robins, GA, and her brother and sister-in-law, James and Mary Wyatt of Orlando, FL. Internment will take place at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia at a future date. Sign an online guestbook at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. **Notes on the Life of Esther & Earl Toone Esther Helen Esther was born in Dublin, Georgia and graduated from Dudley High School. Esther first met Earl at a military dance in Warner Robins and the two were married in July 1963 in Georgia. Shortly thereafter, they relocated to Earl’s home in Bethesda, MD where they raised their only child, Bruce. Esther began work in personnel at the Defense Mapping Agency in Glen Echo where she retired after 30 years as the head of Personnel. During her tenure, she received a Presidential performance award for outstanding work in her field. Earl Born in 1940 in Glen Echo, Maryland, Earl graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School then went on to serve in the United States Air Force. He later worked for A&P Grocery stores and the US Postal Service as a mail carrier. Earl retired from the Postal service after 25 years of service. Life Family was the most important thing to Esther and Earl and they passed that virtue on to Bruce. During their early years, Esther & Earl owned an RV and enjoyed many adventures with the family. Some of Bruce’s best childhood memories include camping at Cherrystone Park in VA with his cousins Paula, Jennifer, & Wendy, & Aunt Sharon & Uncle Frank. The Simmons, Arnold, & Campbell families were always part of the fun too. Their stories of crabbing, campfires, and mischief have certainly been passed on to all the Grandchildren and Jennifer’s family has carried on the RV family camping tradition at Cherrystone. Esther, Earl, & Bruce travelled the US in their RV, visiting the majority of National parks across the country including the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. On the way home from every trip, they made time to stop by Orlando, Florida to visit with Esther’s brother and sister-in-law, James & Mary and their kids, Jessica & Scott, then they would travel to Georgia to stay with Aunt Nannie on the family farm, where all the relatives would come visit together. Esther’s siblings; Janelle, her husband Jack & their daughter Kathy; Billy & his wife Charlie; & Danny and his wife would all spend precious time together reminiscing about childhood often making new memories along the way. Not to be forgotten are the summer vacations spent in Myrtle Beach camping with Earl’s sister’s family; Helen & Bob Frank and their sons Robert, Gary, Jeff, & Daryl. Sometimes Frank & Sharon and the girls would join them…and thus began the love of Myrtle Beach that eventually ended with the entire family purchasing homes and retiring here together. The Toone’s were also devoted members of The Palisades Community Church in Washington, DC. They enjoyed working in community service and cooked and delivered hundreds of meals to those in need. They were also involved in fundraising events for the Church and served as Deacons. Some of Amanda’s fondest memories with Esther & Earl were frantically running through the dining hall at Palisades Church, trying to serve hundreds of community members huge platters of oysters, ham & onions at the Church’s annual Ham & Oyster fundraiser. Even today, Amanda can’t eat a fried oyster without laughing and thinking about those fun and frantic dinners so long ago. In addition to their full-time jobs, Esther & Earl managed real estate investments and spent the 2nd half of the 80’s working every evening and weekend on flipping houses. All that hard work certainly paid off, because after retirement, Esther & Earl moved to their dream home in Surfside Beach, South Carolina. Esther & Earl shared their love of the beach with their grandchildren, Steven & Jessica and taught them to find shells, jump waves, play golf, and shell crabs! Every year they helped the Grandkids decorate the golf cart for the annual 4th of July OSV Golf Cart parade and I’m not sure who enjoyed it more…the kids or Earl! Esther and Earl both loved playing golf and they often played in tournaments around Myrtle Beach and often invited their out-of-town friends to join them. They cultivated new friendships including Esther’s best friend, Aunita Bush. They continued their involvement in community activities and took time to travel the World with family and friends. They’ve visited The Panama Canal, Alaska, just about every tropical island in the Carribbean & West Indies, Mexico, and most of the European countries. Earl’s sister, Helen can show you so many embarrassing pictures of their adventures with Helen & Bob & Sharon & Frank on numerous cruises and trips abroad! Make sure to look through the photo albums and feel free to take pictures of the pictures if you want to keep a memory! Most importantly, Esther & Earl never lost sight of their true passion and calling, which was service to their fellow man. The Toone’s spent at least twelve or more years working with Habitat for Humanity and various Churches to help rebuild homes, buildings, churches and the lives of those less fortunate or hit by catastrophe. They felt so blessed in their lives that they lead by example in passing on the true meaning of discipleship to all who met them. Esther felt strongly that everyone should know how full and meaningful their lives were. They truly have been blessed! “God is not unjust: He will not forget your work and the love that you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10 "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:40