Donald L. Tooloose passed away on January 19, 2019 at Westminster Village Health and Rehab. He was born on August 21, 1928 in DeSoto, Missouri to John Tooloose and Della (Whiteside) Tooloose. Immediately after graduation from high school he went into the U.S. Marines, servicing overseas duty in China and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant. Returning to Missouri he enrolled at Harris Teachers College, graduating with an Associates in Arts degree in June 1951. He then enrolled at the University of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy at Rolla, Missouri, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering in May 1954. He moved to Terre Haute in 1956 to accept the position of Chemical Engineer and head of the Organics Department at Pfizer Inc., retiring in 1988. Don had many hobbies among which were coin and stamp collecting. Don was an avid reader, especially of Stephen King, liked to play bridge and at one time raised and showed Sheltie dogs. He was a lifelong Cardinals fan.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, mother of Dale and Diane, Evelyn (Harper) Tooloose, his brother Dale Tooloose who was killed in the Vietnam conflict, grandson Matthew Tooloose, brothers-in-law Larry Wade and Bob Maynard, step-sister Pam Baldwin, step-brother Mark Litteken, a great grandson, and a step granddaughter.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Ruth Ann (Maynard) Tooloose, son Dale Tooloose (Pam); Dale has since passed on March 18, 2019, daughter Diane Tooloose (Michael Lyday), grandsons Chad Tooloose (Christy) and Johnathan Tooloose, six great grandchildren and seven great great grandchildren. Don is also survived by his sister Pat Wade, half-sister Jodi Pippin (Tim), two half-brothers John Tooloose and Danny Tooloose, step-sister Marie Hunsaker and step-brother-in-law Lloyd Baldwin and several nieces and nephews.
Other survivors include his step-children Jeff Glasgow (Marcia), Kara Anderson (Brad), Scott Glasgow (Angie), step-grandchildren Kylee Fuqua (Kyle), Casey Anderson, Kevin Anderson, Anjie Anderson, J.J. Glasgow, Jodi Glasgow, Tommy Roberts, Jeremy Roberts, Ashley Cummins, and Austin Ellinger and twenty-one step-great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at DeBaun Springhill Chapel at 2:00 p.m. Reverend Rick Swan will be officiating and military honors will be provided by the Sullivan County Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 12:00 noon until service time. In lieu of flowers, Don would have appreciated donations to either the Terre Haute Humane Society or Meals on Wheels. Online condolences may be made to www.debaunfuneralhomes.com.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Donald Tooloose, please visit our floral store.