MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Steve Toma, 95, died Friday, June 24, 2016, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, TN. A graveside service will be held Sunday, July 17, 2016, at 2 p.m. in Oxford Memorial Cemetery with Danny Toma officiating. Visitation will be held from 1 to 1:45 p.m. prior to the service at Waller Funeral Home.

Born on March 4, 1921 in Gary, Indiana, the son of Romanian immigrants who came to this country just prior to the First World War. He was married for over 60 years to Evelyn Eloise Hollopeter, who preceded him in death in 2003. Steve served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. Posted stateside during the conflict, he served in a number of locations, including Knoxville, TN, where he studied at the University of Tennessee, and the air base at Greenwood, MS. In 1953, he moved his family from Indiana to Phoenix, AZ where he worked for a number of years as a contractor before becoming a stock broker, a profession that he loved. Even in his last days, when his vision was no longer good enough to read the newspaper, he would insist that his son give him the latest market report. Steve was active in Republican party politics during his time in Arizona, holding a number of party positions. He made an unsuccessful run for the State legislature in the 1960s and briefly ran for governor in 1982. He and his wife moved to Oregon in 2000 and then his made his final move to Oxford in 2013 to be close to family. He was active in the Lion’s Club, the Elk’s Lodge and was a member of the Episcopal Church.

He is survived by his two sons, Ray Toma and his wife, Anita of Oxford, MS and Stefan Toma and his wife, Rose of Montreal, Canada; four grandchildren, Danny Toma of Oxford, MS, Rory Toma of Felton, CA, Rami Toma and Amalia Toma of Montreal, Canada and four great-grandchildren, Nicolae, Mimmo, Patrick and Emily Toma, all of Oxford, MS. They will all miss his many stories and silly jokes.

Memorial contributions in Mr. Toma’s memory may be made to the Oxford Lion’s Club, P.O. Box 1751, Oxford, MS 38655.

In honor of Mr. Toma’s service to our country, the flag of the United States Army will be flown at Waller Funeral Home.

For additional information or to sign an online guestbook, visit our website at www.wallerfuneralhome.com or call 662-234-7971.