Obituary thanks to Findagrave Contributor I CARE #46979529

Francis Warren Toon, age 88, died peacefully Tuesday night, May 20, 2003, in his Gulfport, Mississippi, home of 55 years. Born on May 10, 1915, in Burns City, Indiana, Warren was the son of John Marcus Toon, originally of Bramble, Indiana, and Ada Agnus Strange Toon of Burns City, Indiana. The youngest of 8 children, he is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Norma Kathleen Taylor Toon, of Cisco, Illinois, and 2 daughters, Janice Kathleen Toon Norman of Cumming, Georgia, and Betty Maureen Toon Collins of Flora, Mississippi.
Warren received from Illinois State University both a B.Ed. in physical sciences and a B.S. in biological sciences. After his marriage to Norma on December 26, 1937, he taught high school sciences and coached athletics in Pleasant Plains, Illinois, while continuing his formal education in environmental sciences at the University of Minnesota.
At the beginning of World War II, Warren joined the U. S. Navy as an ensign and served his country as the commander of a LSD landing force unit aboard the USS Leon fighting in the Pacific theater. Following his discharge from active duty at the end of World War II, Warren continued serving his country in the U. S. Naval Reserves, retiring in 1975 as Lieutenant Commander. As a naval reserve officer, he served not only as the commander of the local reserve officers association but also as the president of the Mississippi State Reserve Officers Association.
His service to his country was not, however, confined to his military service. Drawing on his experience as a teacher, he was a training specialist at Keesler Air Force Base from 1947 until December 1974. When he retired, he was in the training plans branch.
Warren, along with Norma, has been an active member of the First United Methodist Church for 55 years where he served on the church board and as communion steward.
With a love of the sea, wildlife, and the out-of-doors deeply embedded, Warren's free time would find him sailing the Salt Wind and numerous other sail boats, riding horses, floating the rivers, hiking the woods, and looking for wildlife, but always with his family. He taught for many years in the Power Squadron program and was an active member of the Gulfport Yacht Club serving on its board. Most importantly, however, he passed on his love of nature to his children and grandchildren.
He is survived not only by his wife and daughters but also by his sons-in-law (sons to him), Bruce Norman and Frank Collins; 6 grandchildren, Jennifer, Vicki, Mich, Clayton, Kelly and Taylor; and 2 great-grandchildren.
A visitation from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Gulfport, Mississippi, on Saturday, May 24, 2003. A celebration of Warren's life, will begin at 10 a.m., in the church chapel. Immediately following the service, interment will be at Floral Hills Cemetery.
For those wishing to make memorial contributions, the family requests memorials in Warren's name be to the First United Methodist Church in Gulfport, Mississippi, The Nature Conservancy and the World Wildlife Fund.
Riemann Funeral Home, 25th Avenue Gulfport is in charge of arrangements.
Published on May 23, 2003