Edmund Tolbert Obituary

Edmund Burke Tolbert passed away in his home in Durango, CO on May 9, 2016 after a battle with cancer. He was born June 5th, 1925 in Versailles, Brown County, Illinois, son of Chauncey R. Tolbert and Opal M. (Sides) Tolbert.
He is survived by his son, Gregory B. Tolbert of Vallecito, Colorado and his daughter Jennifer P. Tolbert of Durango, Colorado. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Vivian M. Hinchee and Arlene Huddleston. Also surviving are nephews Kent A. Shepard of Chambersburg, Illinois, Jim L. Huddleston of Tuscon, Arizona, Michael D. Shepard of Jacksonville, Illinois, Jery Huddleston of Mt. Sterling, Illinois, and many great-nieces and nephews and cousins.
Burke received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arizona at Tucson. He served in the Army at the Fitzsimons Army Hospital in Denver Colorado where he met his wife, Mary Ellen ""Mimi"" Stephenson. Together they had two children Greg and Jenny. Though they divorced in 1970, Burke and Mimi continued to work together in their business Horizon West Office Furniture in Englewood, Colorado until her death in 1977. Burke closed his business in 1996 and retired to Scottsdale, AZ. He married Deborah Wing, mother of Erica (Nick) Marusich & Carissa Dikeou in January 1985. They enjoyed traveling, golfing, playing bridge and playing tennis (they won many tournaments playing as a team and playing singles), dining, dancing and entertaining in their beautiful homes in BowMar, Colorado and Scottsdale, Arizona. Debby died in September 2005, after battling cancer. After Debby's passing, a very special lady and life long friend Marie Elward and Burke enjoyed a companionable relationship. They lived in Scottsdale, Arizona, and drove up to BowMar or Durango for summers, until her death in September, 2015.
Burke moved to Durango, Colorado to be closer to Greg & Jenny in 2015. He moved to Durango thinking that it would the Perfect place to live to be 100! He joined and Loved his Bridge Clubs ~ Bridge Babes, Senior Center, and Sunshine Gardens. Mornings, he would meet with a group of men, The Strater Coffee Club, for conversation and camaraderie. He enjoyed golf at Hillcrest and Dalton Golf Clubs in Durango.
For Many years, while living in Scottsdale, he'd joined a GREAT GROUP of Fellas, known back then as Da Shadows. They would golf at the Beautiful Mountain Shadows Golf Club in Scottsdale, AZ. He played golf twice a week when he lived in Scottsdale. In August 2015, he had the pleasure of playing 2 1/2 rounds of golf in Telluride, Colorado, 8,750' elevation!
Burke was a Very Kind, Clever, Funny, Loving, Educated Man - ""According to Socrates it's not about the accumulation of knowledge. Wisdom and knowledge, according to him, are matters of behavior."", that will be Deeply, Deeply, missed by his family and friends.
In accordance with his wishes Burke's body was donated to science. There will be no services at this time. In lieu of flowers, thank you for your donation to: Southwest Center for Independence 3473 Main Ave. # 23, Durango, Colorado 81301 www.swilc.org.
Thank You for your Prayers and Donations.