G. Russell Tolton

Fitzwilliam, NH
G. Russell Tolton
George Russell Russ Tolton, 87, of Fitzwilliam died peacefully on March 16, 2010 at his home following a courageous and graceful battle with pulmonary fibrosis. His wife and son were by his side.
Russ was born September 27, 1922 in Newark, NJ, to Joseph and Ruth (Hughes) Tolton. He lived in Belleville, NJ, during his early years before moving to Succasunna and Lake Hopatcong, NJ. Twenty-six years ago he moved to Fitzwilliam, NH.
Russ graduated in 1941 from Roxbury High in Succasunna, NJ, and after the war, he graduated from Terry Art School in Miami, FL. He worked in New York City in advertising for many years before joining Hercules Powder Company (Hercules Inc.) in the engineering department as an illustrator, photographer and graphic artist. He was with Hercules as they branched out from gun powder to solid fuel rocketry and specialty chemicals, advanced materials and aerospace, retiring in the early 80s.
Russ served his country in World War II from 1943-46. He was in the 13th Airborne Division, 515Paratroop Infantry Regiment, and was in the Rhine Campaign and in Central Europe. His division was being prepared for the invasion of Japan when the war ended with the dropping of bombs on Japan.
Russ was a member of the Fitzwilliam Community Church, United Church of Christ, where his wife Rev. Lynda Tolton has been minister for over 20 years. He was a Master Mason, Musconetcong Lodge #151 in Budd Lake, NJ, recently receiving his 60 year pin. He had been a member of the Roxbury Art Association in Roxbury Twp., NJ. and was a member of the Monadnock Humane Society. While his son was growing up, he was active in Cub Scouts, and he managed his sons little league team, making sure each player got a chance to be in the game.
Russ enjoyed downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, snowshoeing, hunting and fishing with his son, boating, sailing, horseback riding, golf, photography, oil and watercolor painting, decoy duck carving, gardening, working out-of-doors, and feeding the birds. He loved animals and over the years he and his wife Lynda rescued and adopted many dogs. He was a model railroad enthusiast building an elaborate layout for several trains. He enjoyed Big Bands and jazz from the 1940s. He was very knowledgeable about jazz and had seen many of the Big Bands perform.

Russ was predeceased by his first wife of 36 years, Amy Tillotson Tolton, who died of colon cancer in 1979, and his brothers Herbert and Walter Tolton.
He is survived by his loving wife of over 27 years, Rev. Lynda Tonking Tolton, his son William J. Tolton of Budd Lake, NJ, granddaughter Nicole Tolton Volpe and her husband Matt, great-granddaughters Morgan and Matty all of Clinton, NJ, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Ada Mae (Tillotson) Felter of Lake Hopatcong, NJ, ClaraLee (Tonking) and Robert Moore of New Cumberland, PA, and Dorothy and John S. Tonking, Sr. of Newton, NJ, a cousin with whom he grew up, Shirley Davis of Columbus, Ohio, and many nieces and nephews. Russ is also survived by two rescue dogs: Dolmars Debutante (Dee Dee), a German Shepherd, and Echomoors Sultan III (Sully), an English Black Lab.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Fitzwilliam Community Church c/o Jane Wright, treasurer, PO Box 510, Fitzwilliam, NH 03447.

A service in Celebration of Russ Toltons Life will be held at the Fitzwilliam Community Church, UCC, on April 24, 2010 at 1:00 p.m.