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FOWLER -- Family man, lifelong educator and God's servant, Joseph P. Toth Jr., "Joe" to family and friends, was a man for all seasons. God's loyal servant passed on to his heavenly home, Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Trumbull Regional Medical Center, after an extended battle with heart disease.
He was born Nov. 19, 1939, in Warren, to parents, Mrs. Mary Shenosky Toth and Joseph P. Toth Sr. He was a 1957 graduate of Warren G. Harding High School and a very proud enlistee and member of the Army Reserve Corps. Following his service to his country, Joe enrolled at Youngstown State University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in education. During this same time, Joe and his wife, Bonnie, met in St. James Catholic Church Catholic Youth Organization, developing a special relationship that led to their marriage in 1963. They were blessed to have 59 years of marriage together.
After graduation, he began his lifelong career in education, in the caring for, nurturing and providing safe and stimulating environments for all children to learn. Joe began his teaching career in Mathews Local Schools, continued in Warren City Schools, acquired a master's degree in education administration at Akron University, and then moved to Lakeview Schools, where he was principal at Bazetta Elementary for 31 years. During his tenure at Bazetta, Joe particularly enjoyed watching and having his own daughters grow and further their education until their graduations.
Even in retirement, Joe continued to strive and become involved in new and different venues. After retirement from public school education, he worked for Youngstown State and Kent State universities as a student teacher adviser. Being community minded, he also was a member of the Joseph Badger School Board, which was responsible for building the new Joseph Badger school complex.
Never letting any grass grow under his feet, Joe had many interests and hobbies, including model building and growing roses; he served as president, vice president and secretary of the Warren Rose Society for six years and was very active in the organization for many years.
Joe had a strong religious belief that serving God was just as important as your earthly occupation. As a member of Blessed Sacrament Church, he was involved in numerous aspects of parish life. In 1985, he received the calling to become a deacon in the Catholic Church. He served at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish and was especially fond of visiting and ministering to the sick at Trumbull Memorial Hospital.
Through all of this lifetime of work and activities, the most important thing was Joe's love of his family, children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Green Toth; daughters, Pam Gordon, Sharon Gordon (Alan) and Jennifer DeMao (Michael); along with grandchildren, John Gordon, Catriona Gordon, Alan Hunter Gordon and Isla Rose Gordon; and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Genevieve Chachko; and nephew, William Chachko.
A Mass of Christian Burial, with the Rev. Christopher Cicero officiating and the Rev. John Madden concelebrating, will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at St. James Catholic Church in Warren, with calling hours preceding, from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial will follow in All Souls Cemetery in Bazetta. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joe's name to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church.
Caring and professional arrangements have been entrusted to the care of the Staton-Borowski Funeral Home, 962 North Road NE, Warren, OH 44483, 330-394-6200. Dedicated to serving your loved ones. This obituary may be viewed, and condolences sent to www.statonborowskifuneralhome.com.
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