WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA - Mr. Charles
E. Toole, 86 was released from this earth to
meet his Lord and maker on February 27, 2010.
He had a recent stay at Heart of Florida Hospital,
Davenport and succumbed after a short illness.

Charlie was born on May 17, 1923 in Syracuse, New York. Charlie was predeceased by his parents, James and Emma, his beloved sisters, Marian and Winifred and his precious little boy, Charlie junior.

As a young man, Charlie helped his father who was a local goods trader in Syracuse, NY. Charlie left the city to join the Chance-Vought aircraft factory in Stratford Connecticut. With World War II calling, Charlie and his best friend in life Jack Fitzgibbons, left the factory and proudly joined and served in the United States Merchant Marines. Among his many jobs, Charlie was employed as a tractor trailer driver with a number of organizations and retired from Ultramar / Pittston Petroleum after 20 years, on May 31, 1985. With the Merchant Mariners receiving their just due recognition as honorable Veterans, Charlie took pride in his membership with the VFW Post # 4289 in Winter Haven, Florida.

The added bonus of having worked in Stratford was meeting the love of his life, Nancy Clare Mohan. They would marry and enjoy the next 65 years of their lives in love, while setting a genuine example for the meaning of the words marriage and family.

Charlie leaves a litany of loved ones in his wake including his wife Nancy, sons, James and wife Kristen, Robert; daughters, Mary Ellen and husband Robert, Eileen and husband Lanny; sons, David and wife Carolyn, John and wife Janice and Martin and wife Danielle. In addition, Charlie loved his sixteen grandchildren and twenty one great-grandchildren. While mere words cannot summarize the life of this incredible man, Mom puts it in context as she reminds us that "Charlie was a friend to the world; he loved the children; he was an enemy to no one".

The family will welcome visitors on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, at Oak Ridge Funeral Care in Haines City. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 3, 2010, at 10:00 am at St Ann Catholic Church in Haines City. Military Honors and Burial will follow at the National Veterans Cemetery at Bushnell, Florida.

Charlie has requested that donations be forwarded to the Children's Smiles Organization, Operation Smile, 6435 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, Virginia 23509 or www.operationsmile.org or to the VFW Post 4289, 2441 7th street SW, Winter Haven, Florida 33880.