Eugene Toms

Eugene Toms lived a life of faith and service to Christ, his family, his church and his community. He encouraged all under his wing to fully develop their God given talents and use them for the betterment of their world.

Eugene was born in Grandfield, Oklahoma to Lucille Jefferson and Eural Standfield on September 30, 1936. His family moved to Lawton, Oklahoma where he spent his early childhood. The family later moved to Peoria, Illinois and remained there for many years.

Eugene attended the public schools in Peoria and graduated from Peoria Central High. While attending Central High, he was a star basketball player and earned a full scholarship to Western Illinois University in McComb, Illinois. His team was inducted into Western’s Hall of Fame after winning the National Championship.

After graduating from Western Illinois, he moved to Chicago, Illinois and began his career as a teacher in the Chicago Public Schools. His desire to become an administrator led him to Roosevelt University in Chicago where he earned his Master’s degree in Administration.
His first position as principal was at Washington Elementary School in Maywood, Illinois. Other positions as principal included Washington Junior High School in Joliet, Illinois and O.D. Wyatt High School in Fort Worth, Texas.

Eugene Toms was a gifted administrator and used his gift to mentor the young educators who worked with him. He has received many awards for his work in the field of education and for his service in the communities in which he worked and lived. He has worked in numerous ministries in the churches of his affiliation in Illinois and Texas. Those positions and ministries included Sunday School Superintendent, deacon, trustee, usher, bereavement, and Water from the Rock. He and his wife, Emogene, also delivered meals on wheels for a number of years.

Eugene Toms never met a stranger. People were drawn to his cheerfulness, his jokes and his smile. His way of relaxation was fishing with his friend, Jimmu Wilkins, riding his bike, and daily conversing with his friends, Johnny Turner, James Rose, and Smith Harris.

Eugene traveled the world with wife, Emogene and other travel buddies. He has visited places of interest on every continent except South America and Antarctica.

Eugene was preceded in death by his daughters Ellen Gross and Eugenia Fields.

Left to cherish his memories as well as his legacy are his beloved wife of 57 years, Emogene Toms; his precious daughter, Dr. Angelica Rollins (Mark, MD) of Westfield, Indiana; 6 grandchildren: Mia Smith (Sedric) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Johnathan McLaurin (Jonell) of Westfield, Indiana, Ellis Toms of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lorene Gross, Destyni Anderson of Westfield, Indiana and Anthony “Tony” Toms of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; twenty great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; brother-in-law, McElree Tyler (Lois) of Farmington Hills, Michigan; sisters-in-law: Joyce Jarrett (Byron) of Little Rock, Arkansas, Barbara Tyler of Carson, California; and a host of extended family and friends who will miss him dearly.