William L. Toms

William Leonard Toms, 78, Clarks Green, died Saturday, March 16, in Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center. His wife of 40 years was the former Elizabeth A. Barkasy, who died April 11, 2020.

Born Feb. 10, 1946, in McKeesport, he was the son of the late Robert Louis and Ethel Katherine (Keen) Toms. He was a graduate of McKeesport High School and studied at Milligan College in Tennessee. After Milligan he went to the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, where he earned his degree in mortuary science. He honorably served his country in the United States Army and sustained injuries during his deployment in Vietnam. He was awarded the following medals: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

Career oriented, Bill's life afforded him a diverse professional career which began after mortuary school. He worked in the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office under the well-known forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht and then relocated to Clarks Summit to purchase the Fuller E. Blinken's Funeral Home, currently the Jennings-Calvey Funeral Home.

Bill had been involved in the Kingswood Restaurant, Clarks Summit, and later supervised funeral homes in Virginia and Florida. His career path then led him to become a state inspector of funeral homes for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where he worked until he purchased the James M. Hook Funeral Home in Mount Pocono, Pa. He went on to work in law enforcement and was a transportation specialist prior to his retirement.

A Clarks Green resident, Bill served on the Clarks Green Borough Council and was a member of the Clarks Summit Fire Company, 32nd degree Mason with Waverly Lodge 301, F & AM, and various funeral director organizations. A disabled veteran, he was a member of the Abington Memorial Post 7069 VFW.

Bill is survived by his brother, James Toms and wife, Ellen, of Medford, Mass.; and brother-in-law, Eugene Barkasy of Scranton. Additional family members include Jason and Lidiane Toms of Medford, Mass., Nicole and Joseph Hanni, along with children Sam and Louis of Dunmore, and Danielle and Edward Gowarty and children Rita, Sophia and Eddie of South Abington Twp.

Additional survivors include caregivers, Joan Grillo (Richie), Scranton, and Joanne DiNardo, as well as longtime friend Denise Castelli Bova and her son Frank Bova.

A celebration of Bill's life will be held on Saturday, April 6, at 1 p.m. at the Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Service Inc., 111 Colburn Ave., Clarks Summit, PA 18411 with services conducted by the Rev. Michele Caufton, rector of the Church of the Epiphany. Military honors and the Abington Memorial Post 7069 will show tribute during the memorial service. Interment will be at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, Pa., at a future date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Clarks Summit Fire Co. No. 1 Inc., P.O. Box M, Clarks Summit, PA 18411 or Parkinson Council, P. O. Box 1948, Media, PA 19063.