HARRY L. "TONY" TOYNE

January 12, 1929 -
March 6, 2006

Harry arrived on this planet in La Porte, Indiana, on January 12, 1929. He attended various schools in Northern Indiana and ultimately graduated from South Bend Central High in Indiana.

He enlisted in the Army on April 15, 1946, was assigned to the Army Air Corps and was ordered to Shepard Field, Texas, for basic training. After basic and a couple of interim assignments, Harry was sent to Scott AFB for training in radio repair. He completed the basic courses and was then retained at Scott AFB to attend the advanced radio repair training. Upon completion, he was assigned as an instructor until his discharge in April of '49. Not being totally satisfied with his experience in the Air Force, (he wanted to do something besides teach classes,) Harry joined the US Naval Reserves and enrolled in a Junior College at Belleville, IL. (Notre Dame was just too close to home.)

Then along came Korea and on Nov. 1, 1950, Harry was called to Active Duty with the Navy. This began an active reserve career that spanned over thirty-eight years. As a Seaman 1/C, Toyne was sent to the Naval Air Station in Alameda, CA. Upon arrival at NAS Alameda, Harry was advised he could be assigned as a Radio Operator on a JRM type aircraft (a Martin Man, four engine sea plane.) The only problem is that Harry was an electronics technician, not a radio operator. He was then trained and stayed with VR-2 at NAS Alameda as an air borne radio operator, flying between Hawaii and Alameda until his release from active duty in March of '52.

During the assignment at Alameda, Harry met Barbara Rodenborn of San Jose, California. They married on May 18, 1952, and maintained a home in San Jose while Harry attended San Jose State College, graduating in 1955 with a BA in Public Relations. Barbara had graduated from San Jose State in 1949 and was a great help to Harry. While at SJSC, Harry applied for and received a Direct Appointment as an Ensign in the US Naval Reserves. Upon Graduation from college, he was hired by the IRS and worked with them until 1976 when he was retired on a disability; Harry had to have Heart Bypass Surgery. At this time, he and Barbara lived in Eureka, California with their six children, four girls and two boys.

After his appointment as an Ensign, Harry continued in the Naval Reserve Program until November of 1966 when he was recruited by the US Coast Guard and became the Executive Officer of a new Reserve Unit being established in Eureka, CA. He transferred to the USCGR and in 1972 became the Commanding Officer of the US Coast Guard Reserve Training Unit at Eureka. Harry was awarded the Coast Guard Achievement Medal for his efforts in establishing the Coast Guard Reserve at Eureka and retired as Lieutenant Commander of the USCGR.

Harry was employed for ten years as a County Veterans' Service Officer (six years for Humboldt County and four years for Yolo County) and retired from there in 1987. He had a brief career in Real Estate (four years) and then went on to try his bit in the Travel Business. Barbara and Harry loved to travel. They visited Germany, France, Italy, England, Scotland, Spain, Portugal and much of Europe. They have also traveled to Egypt, China, Japan and the Greek Isles and have taken cruises to Tahiti, the Hawaiian Islands and the Caribbean. Harry was a member of Saint Lawrence Church, the Military Officers of America Association, Sir's American River Branch #67, The Carmichael Elks Club, The Reserve Officers Association, San Jose State University Alumni Association, NARFE and the Sacramento Jazz Society. He was a past member of the Knights of Columbus in Eureka, California but had taken a demit when transferred to the Sacramento area. He also volunteered at the Retired Activities Office and the McClellan VA Clinic.

Preceded in death were his parents, Hazel Ward and Lee A. Toyne; his sister, Kathy (age 9) and brother Billy (age 9 months.)

He is survived by his loving wife of almost 54 years, Barbara; six children, David Toyne (and wife Shelley Richards), Babette Henslee (and husband Joseph), Teresa Montague, Michael Toyne, Heidi Bonnett (and husband Richard) and Patricia Toyne; six grandchildren, Anthony and Christopher Pitts, Ashley Jennings, Xavier Craig and Teagan and Brock Bonnett; great-grandchild Miah Salazar; brothers-in-law David and Lawrence Rodenborn and their wives Spyroula and Joyce; Aunt Nell Green and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Services will be held at St. Lawrence Church, Walerga and Don Julio Streets in North Highlands. The Vigil will be held on Monday at 7:00 PM and Mass will be held on Tuesday at 8:30 AM. A reception will be held in the church hall immediately following the service on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice or to the Heart or Lung Association.

Published by The Sacramento Bee on Mar. 13, 2006.

03/07/2023 EJS