Harry Tolar Jr.

PULASKI, Ill. -- Harry Tolar Jr., 79, of Pulaski died at 4 a.m. Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, at his home.

Mr. Tolar was born Nov. 21, 1924, in Cairo, Ill., the son of Mary (Walsh) and Harry Tolar Sr.

Mr. Tolar was a World War II veteran serving with the U.S. Army's 1st Division in the European Theater for which he received the Purple Heart.

Mr. Tolar was a charter member of the Mounds VFW Post 8891, serving 21 years as quartermaster and just last June ending a two-year term as commander.

After retiring from the U.S. Postal Service in 1982 with 37 years of service, he operated Tolar Tax Service in Pulaski and was a ballroom dance instructor.

Mr. Tolar was a member of Elks Lodge 651 BPO in Cairo, member of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Pulaski and was a 45-year member of the Egyptian Country Club of Mounds, where he served two terms as president.

Survivors include his wife, Hazel M. (DeWeese) Tolar, of Pulaski. They were married July 4, 1947, at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church and recently celebrated their 57th anniversary.

Mr. Tolar is also survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Theresa and Clyde Ruble of Bolingbrook, Ill., a daughter, Peggy Grant of Dongola, Ill.; two sons, Thomas and Kenneth Tolar, both of Pulaski; grandchildren, Jessica Ruble Bronersky (Chris) of Bolingbrook, Janice Mowery of Anna, Daniel Mowery of Anna, Ill., Alecia Tolar Gore (Robert) of Jonesboro, Nicholas Tolar (Elizabeth) of Carbondale, Ill., Andrew Ruble of Bolingbrook and Natalie Grant of Dongola; great-grandchildren, Corrin Bronersky, Emily Holst, Alexandria Lovell and Joseph Bronersky; stepdaughter, Patricia Pitcher Upshaw (Joseph) Warner Robbins of Georgia; a brother, Nathan Roy Tolar (Jewel "Bug") of Jacksonville, Fla.; and a sister, Mary Ann Conaway of Florissant, Mo.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Tolar was also preceded in death by a sister, 1st Lt. Doris Tolar, U.S. Air Force.

Friends may call between 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge, Ill., and after 8 am. Thursday until the time of service. An Elks memorial service will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church with the Rev. Terry Kern officiating. Interment will follow in the Green Lawn Memorial Gardens at Villa Ridge with full military honors given by members of the Pulaski Co. VFW Post 8891 in Mounds.

Pallbearers will include all of Mr. Tolar's grandsons, grandsons-in-law and fellow VFW members C. Ray Miller, Colbia Essex, George Britt Jr. and Harold Hargan.

At the request of the family, expressions of sympathy may take the form of memorials to the donor's choice in memory of Harry Tolar Jr.

Jones Funeral Home at Villa Ridge is in charge of arrangements.