Livingston "Wiss" Toomer
Marriages
Mildred Louise "Mike" Shiflett Toomer - 1951
in Virginia.
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 6 - October 7, 2010
Livingston "Wiss" TOOMER 1922-2010
The valley lost a true gentleman of the West on Sept. 27 with the passing of Wiss TOOMER.
"He had a life he absolutely loved, riding horses and taking care of cows," says Mildred "Mike" TOOMER, his wife of 59 years.While he spent much of his adult life in the saddle, the personification of a traditional cowboy, Wiss was born in Viginia Beach, Va., to James H. and Kathrene K. TOOMER on July 9, 1922. Wiss was the second of three brothers and he spent his childhood in Tidewater, Va., where he and his brothers enjoyed sailing in the Chesapeake Bay area.
In 1940 at age 18, Wiss left for the west and ended up in Burns,Colo., where he worked for the Benton Land and Livestock Company. Then, in the fall of 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.
"He didn't talk about his military career much, but right up there with his horses and cows, he loved being a Marine," says Mike TOOMER.
During his World War II service, Wiss fought in the battles of Saipan and Iwo Jima. He was awarded three purple hearts for being wounded in action. During his eulogy last week, son Bob TOOMER noted that one of his father's Marine pictures shows Wiss being awarded a Navy Cross for service in battle. It is one of the highest honors given by the Marines. Characteristically, few people knew that Wiss was a war hero. Fewer still know the particulars of his World War II service.
Bob noted that in the book "Iwo," author Richard Wheeler tells of the Japanese military build-up on the island as they developed an air base there and attempted to secure the site for their use. WHEELER noted that fighting was particularly fierce.
"A great part of the battle's ferocity must be ascribed to its concentration. When the entire troop of the assault was ashore, the island would be one of the most heavily populated seven and a half square miles on earth. There would be no room for tactical maneuvering that might save lives, the Marines having no choice but to go directly against the fortifications. At no time wee they safely out of range," wrote WHEELER.
"Initially, the hottest beaches were those of the 4th Division on the right, with the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines, in the most unenviable position. It was the unit closest to the ridge, broken by cliffs that overlooked the beach from the north. Before the landing, General Clifton CATES, commander of the 4th Division, had said, 'If I knew the name of the man on the extreme right of the right-hand squad of the right-hand company of 3/25, I'd recommend him for a medal before we go in.' The hero's identity was to go unrecorded," wrote Wheeler.
"While reading this book, Dad explained to me the importance of that man," said Bob TOOMER. "He was a key man for communication an in some way he was the lead man as they made the sweep to advance. Though I did not fully understand what was involved, Dad did. That particular man was wounded in his right leg and knee and was sent stateside with his third purple heart to recover."
That man was Wiss TOOMER.
After his harrowing experiences on Iwo Jima, Wiss went on to graduate from Colorado A&M with a bachelor's degree in animal science. He returned to Virginia to marry Mildred Louise SHIFFLETT [SHIFLETT] in 1951 and in the spring of 1954 the couple traveled back to Burns to live out Wiss's second dream. The dream of being a cowboy and a rancher.
"Dad's greatest loves were riding horses and working cattle. He sure liked feeding the teams of horses in the winter and the calving in the spring. As the years passed he became a skilled teamster, easily able to handle a four-horse hitch," says Bob TOOMER. "He lived through a few run-aways and though he was not a great storyteller he lived out enough stories worth telling."
The Toomers raised three sons--Jim was born in 1955, Bob was born in 1956 and Tom was born in 1958--on their Burns ranch. According to Bob TOOMER, Wiss became cow foreman for the Benton ranch and spent the summers at the Sunnyside cow camp and the winters at the school section place in Burns Hole. The Toomers started leasing part of the Benton ranch in 1974 and operated that lease till the ranch sold in 1993. Wiss ran a herd of about 600 mother cows before he retired from ranching.
"He didn't really retire, he just started helping Jim and did not have to worry about all the responsibilities," says Bob TOOMER. "It was actually only two years ago when he pulled his saddle off his horse for the last time and quit riding for good."
Eventually Wiss and Mike moved to Gypsum where they remained until 2010. Wiss spent his final days at the Colorado State Veteran's Nursing Home in Rifle.
"Dad was really a very humble guy," says son Jim TOOMER. He noted that Wiss was, in many respects, an embodiment of Western values. "He was quiet, very honest and had a lot of integrity," says Jim.
Funeral services were held at the Eagle Baptist Church on Oct. 1. Interment was at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Gypsum.
Wiss leaves his wife of 59 years, Mildred; three sons James (Kathy), Robert (Penny) and tom (Linda); brother Lamar (Emily); 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; five nieces and one nephew along with many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Lt. James TOOMER III.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Colorado State Veteran's Nursing Home, 851 East 5th Street, Rifle, CO 81650;or to a charity of your choice.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 6B - September 29, 2010
Livingston "Wiss" Toomer went
to be with his Lord and Savior
September 27, 2010 at the Colorado
State Veteran's Nursing
Home in Rifle. Services will be
held September 30, 2010 at 11:00
a.m. at the Eagle Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests
donations to the Veteran's Nursing Home or a charity of your
choice. A full obituary will follow.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5B - October 5, 2010
Livingston "Wiss" Toomer, 88,
of Gypsum went home to be with
the Lord on Monday, September
27, 2010.
He was born July 9, 1922 at Virginia
Beach, Virginia to James H.
and Kathrene K. Toomer. He
spent his childhood in Tidewater,
Virginia where he and his brothers enjoyed sailing in the Chesapeake
Bay area.
At age 18 he left for the west and ended up in Burns, Colorado
where he worked for the Benton Land & Livestock Company.
In the fall of 1942 he enlisted in the US Marine Corp where he
served his country in the battles of Saipan and Iwo Jima. He was
awarded three purple hearts for being wounded in action. After the
war, he returned to Colorado and graduated from Colorado A&M
with a bachelors degree in Animal Science. After his graduation he
returned to Virginia and in 1951 married Mildred Louise Shiflett. In
1954 they returned to the Benton Ranch where they raised three
sons, and worked until 1993, when the ranch sold. At that time, they
moved to Gypsum where they remained until 2010. Wiss spent his
final days at the Colorado State Veteran's Nursing Home in Rifle.
Funeral Services were held at the Eagle Baptist Church on October
1. Interment was at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Gypsum.
Wiss leaves his wife of 59 years, Mildred; three sons, James
(Kathy), Robert (Penny) and Tom (Linda); brother, Lamar (Emily);
ten grandchildren; four great grandchildren; five neices and one
nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Lt. James
Toomer III.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Colorado State
Veteran's Nursing Home, 851 East 5th Street, Rifle, CO 81650; or
to a charity of your choice.
Vail Daily page A8 - September 29, 2010
TOOMER SERVICES THURSDAY
Livingston "Wiss" TOOMER went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday at the Colorado State Veteran's Nursing Home in Rifle. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Eagle Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Veteran's Nursing Home or a charity of your choice.
Vail Daily page A10 - October 6, 2010
WISS TOOMER, GYPSUM RESIDENT
Livingston "Wiss" TOOMER, 88, of Gypsum, went home to be with the Lord on Sept. 27.
He was born July 9, 1922, in Virginia Beach, Va., to James H. and Kathrene K. TOOMER. He spent his childhood in Tidewater, Va., where he and his brothers enjoyed sailing in the Chesapeake Bay area.
At age 18, he left for the West and ended up in Burns, where he worked for the Benton Land & Livestock Co.
In the fall of 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served his country in the battles of Saipan and Iwo Jima. He was awarded three Purple Hearts for being wounded in action. After the war, he returned to Colorado and graduated from Colorado A&M with a bachelor's degree in animal science. After his graduation, he returned to Virginia and in 1951 married Mildred Louise SHIFLETT. In 1954, they returned to the Benton Ranch, where they raised three sons and worked until 1993, when the ranch sold. At that time, they moved to Gypsum, where they remained until 2010. Wiss spent his final days at the Colorado State Veterans Nursing Home in Rifle.
Funeral services were held at the Eagle Baptist Church on Oc. 1. Interment was at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Gypsum.
Wiss leaves his wife of 59 years, Mildred; three sons, James (Kathy), Robert (Penny) and Tom (Linda); brother Lamar (Emily); 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; five nieces; and one nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Lt. James TOOMER III.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Colorado State Veteran's Nursing Home, 851 E. Fifth St., Rifle, CO 81650 or to a charity of your choice.
