William C Tolman

MOULTONBOROUGH---William C. Tolman, (73) passed away at home on Tuesday, February 23, 2016. He was known for his strength in character, unnerving faith, steadfast love and devotion to family, determination and loyalty, which could never heal the physical heart of William Carl Tolman, who left his family suddenly and yet expectedly.
While we had many years to prepare for this day, his family is left with a void to be filled with the memories and personalities that live on in his wife of 48 years, Cynthia Tolman, his Children, Jonathan Tolman and his wife Deborah of Moultonborough, Rebecca Bryant and her husband Jason of Moultonborough, Mark Tolman and his wife Laura White of Raleigh, North Carolina, and his absolutely devoted and heartbroken grandchildren, Matthew, Michael and Daniel Tolman, Jonathan, Benjamin and Abigail Bryant. Bill is also survived by his sisters, Viola (Glen) Hayden, Pauline (Richard) Patterson, Betty Smith, Patricia (Lawrence) Reed, and his brother James Tolman, and many nieces and nephews spread from Maine to California. He is predeceased by his parents, his brothers Clarence Jr and Charles, and his sister Shirley.
Known as William, Bill, Billy, and Mr. Tolman to many a child who grew up in Moultonborough, Bill was born on November 24, 1942 in Solon, Maine, to Clarence and Dora (Gardiner) Tolman. He graduated from Solon High School in 1961, and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1962. Bill was trained as a jet aircraft engine mechanic at Amarillo AFB in Texas from February 1962 until June of 1962 and later would be stationed at Pease Air Force Base with the 100th Maintenance Squadron, working on B-47's. During his time there he made frequent TDY flights to Spain and Goose Bay Labrador.
It was while stationed at Pease that Bill, traveling to visit a church on a Sunday morning with his best friend, found himself in Moultonborough where he was immediately enamored, yes Bill was enamored, with a young Cynthia Johnson, who happened to have recently relocated from Arkansas with her family and was seated at the church piano. Bill leaned over to his friend and whispered, "I'm going to marry that girl." The rest as they say, is history. Bill was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force at the rank of E-4 in December of 1965.
Bill and Cindi eventually settled in Moultonborough, and where they committed themselves to raising a family and being outstanding servants of the community, schools, churches, or whatever they were involved in. And Bill was involved. A dedicated youth ports coach for many years, coaching his children's teams of soccer and basketball, president of the Moultonborough PTA, serving on the Moultonborough Zoning Board, the Moultonborough Building Code of Appeals, and his proudest service, six years on the Moultonborough School Board, serving five years as the Chairman. For many years he enjoyed opening the gym on Sunday nights for some nice laid back men's basketball. Up until the day before his death he followed college basketball and could tell you about the up and coming stars of the day.
Bill was a talented, hardworking carpenter, learning the craft from his father in law, and his mark has been left on many a home around the Lakes Region. He took pride in his work, in working 80 hours a week so his wife could stay home and raise their family. He instilled every ounce of that work ethic, commitment to community, and love of family in his children and was quick to share his perspective with his grandchildren as well. He was tremendously proud of his children and grandchildren, and his gruff exterior never fooled a single one of them.
Bill understood and accepted long ago that his heart would physically fail him someday, and due to an infallible faith in his maker, he was always spiritually ready to go home. His greatest frustration came from an unwelcome retirement when his body was failing him, and his family all knew he didn't want to live in limbo. He also didn't want to leave us, he knew how hard this would be, and he definitely did not want all the tears that are falling over his departure. If he was speaking of someone else, he would have given us some of his many words...dry, sarcastic, loving words, such as "Oh dear, bread and beer, if I were dead I wouldn't be here" or "People are dying every day and I don't feel so well myself." Well you are not here, and we miss you. Until we meet again...