Jean Carter Toombs

AGE: 78 • Wilmington, Del.

Jean Carter Toombs passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at her home in Wilmington having struggled with cancer for several years.

A native of West Virginia, she came to Wilmington in 1964. A graduate of Marshall University in West Virginia and Wilmington University, she was a woman of many interests and talents ranging from teaching, to the study of the fine arts and foods, to Keeshond dogs.

She had been a teacher of Home Economics and English at Brandywine High School, retiring in 1995. While at Brandywine, she was known and loved for the Chefs program which she designed and taught. Upon retiring from Brandywine, she became an adjunct professor at Wilmington University from 1995 to 2014, where she taught two innovative Foods courses which she created and also various English and Literature courses. She was also an English instructor at Delaware Technical Community College in Wilmington.

A lover of the fine arts, she served as a docent at Nemours Mansion from 1998 to 2014. In addition she enjoyed the theater, the Delaware Symphony concerts, and the Metropolitan Opera performances. Her Keeshond dogs were her great passion, and she had been an officer and active member of the Keeshond Club of Delaware Valley. She was also a long-time mentor to many of her thousands of students over the past 50 years and will be greatly missed by her many friends.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 11:00 am at the CHANDLER FUNERAL HOME, 2506 Concord Pike, Wilmington, DE 19803 where friends may visit from 10:00 to 11:00 am.

Gifts in her memory can be sent to the Delaware Humane Association, 701 A Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 or Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111-2497.

For online condolences,

please visit

chandlerfuneralhome.com

302.478.7100

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The News Journal from Nov. 13 to Nov. 15, 2015.

Memories and Condolences
for Jean Toombs

33 Entries

S C P Restaino

July 18, 2025

My life advisor and friend at BHS `72

glenn Kresge

December 29, 2019

Mrs. Toombs was my next door neighbor in Fairfax; she was a great friend of our family. I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with her as a kid, then later on as a student at Brandywine. We would take day trips down to Rehoboth in her blue 1964 Skylark Buick Convertible; Which she purchased from my father. I enjoyed her wisdom and kind personality. I am sadden to hear of her passing just now.

Tim Pierse

June 5, 2019

Mrs Toombs ( as I knew her)
was my favorite teacher. I met her through her Chefs Class and she turned me on to my passion for cooking even to this day. I still remember her saying every kitchen needs a whisk, wood spoon and spatula. She was an amazing teacher.
She taught all these guys how to make bread, a struedel, white sauce and the list goes on......she was kind and fun.........she is missed but I will never forget her......

Greg Shelton

November 7, 2018

We miss you Jean. You were truly a wonderful woman and friend to us.

Frank Dukes

July 17, 2017

Just now learning of the passing of this remarkable woman.
I had the pleasure of being in one class or another of hers for my entire 3 years at Brandywine. Looking back, the amount of trust and responsibility she placed on me and my fellow supervisors was amazing. The love of cooking that she instilled in me is still strong this day. I think of her often as I putter around the kitchen. There have been few people in my life that have been as inspirational as she was.

Frank Dukes
BHS Class of 84

Maryann Hogan

June 12, 2017

I just found out that Jean had passed away. My husband & I, Dr. John T. Hogan and I moved to FL, after he retired from First State Orthopaedics.

However, he too has passed away, Oct 7, 2015. Heaven must have been busy at that time!!!

Jean & I were Keeshond lovers together and we took our puppies to training together.

I want you as her family to know that she was a very wonderful person and my husband & I enjoyed spending time & having dinners with her. We had a wine group with several friends, where we would have dinner, together,once a month.

I don not have a Keesie right now but I am sure, when thing settle, I will have one-they are great company & protectors.

Please accept my deepest sympathies.

Maryann Hogan
[email protected]

When my husband was in the OR at Christiana, at night, I always took my Keesie with me, whereever I went. I was sure to besafe.

Circa 1969

Tom Donaldson

May 3, 2016

Linda Bertram Selwood

November 23, 2015

Thank you Jean for your friendship. The many years we spent together at BHS were more special because you were a part of them. You also introduced me to so many things outside of teaching that my life became much richer. Rest in peace, beautiful lady. Much love, Linda.L

Floyd Demby

November 21, 2015

I am sorry to here about this she help me so much what a nice lady and great teacher one of the best ever.

carolanne leone

November 12, 2015

I graduated from BHS 1977. Years and years later, I can still say she was one of my favorite teachers. I absolutely loved her. I always felt we had a special bond and I remember her big heart and kindness. She was loved. She will always be remembered and live on through all of us that she touched. My condolences.
With gratitude and love,
Carolanne Leone

Stephen and Pat Yagecic

November 15, 2015

We met Jean at a dog show in the 1980's where we were both showing Keeshonden. Over the years we enjoyed many weekends at shows with our dogs.
Jean will be remembered for her smile and generosity in sharing her knowledge of food and dogs.

Dale Kitts

November 14, 2015

Jean was my cousin. We had many memorable family gatherings especially at her parents home during Christmas.

A very lovely person that will be greatly missed!

Beth Haas Teasley

November 12, 2015

Mrs. Toombs had a major impact on my life. I was privileged to have her as a teacher!

Scott Mitchell

November 12, 2015

Mrs. Toombs was a great teacher. I had her for Chefs and Chefs II at Brandywine High School in the early 1980s. She's the inspiration for my love of cooking.

Elissa Zasloff Cheney

November 12, 2015

One of the sweetest best teachers at BHS! Such found memories of Home EC and Chefs class. She will be missed. My heartfelt sympathy to the family- and deepest condolences.

Dana Marshall

November 12, 2015

I am so sorry to hear this. I was student at Brandywine High School (Class of 1975) and remember her fondly. My condolences to her family and friends.

Julie

November 12, 2015

Ms. Toombs will forever be a person I admire and respect. I am thankful for all she taught me. God bless. <3

anne neely-beck

November 12, 2015

She was a great teacher and taught me much. I still have my love of cooking and sewing to this day.
RIP
Anne Neely-Beck

Todd Holtsberry

November 11, 2015

Ms. Toombs was a great teacher and was one of my favorites. She always had a kind word and a smile for her students. I graduated from Brandywine H.S. in 1982. RIP Ms.Toombs, thanks for letting me be a student teacher in Chefs Two class as well...you made a difference in my life.

Shawn Friel

November 21, 2015

Ms. Toombs was a great teacher/mentor/friend and also great inspiration to me and many many others. She was the first true person to believe in me and got me on the road to Culinary arts. The framework she helped build has made me the person I am today. Ms. Toombs inspired me in so many ways. I am glad to have to known such a great indiviual. I attended her service today and it was just a beautiful as any would suspect. Rest in peace Jean, you will be dearly missed by all. I will always cherish the guidance you provided and the friendship we had.

Quentin Washington

November 19, 2015

I had the honor to be in Mrs Toombs Chefs classes as well as her Supervisor courses, she was a caring person and she will be truly missed

Nick Mottola

November 18, 2015

Mrs. Toombs was not only a great teacher/mentor but was great inspiration to me and countless others. Her passion, love for teaching, passion for food and instilling good values in everything you do is a framework that I have used for my journey in life. Mrs. Toombs was and still is my hero.ay she Rest in peace.

Jamie Wiest

November 17, 2015

Jean Toombs was a very insprational person in my life, a great friend and teacher. Thank you for being a big part of my life. You will be missed greatly..

November 17, 2015

Jean you inspired my daughter when she had you as her home economics instructor at Brandywine High School. Since then she has mastered the love of cooking and baking. God Bless you and thank you.

Meg Hartman

November 16, 2015

Jean was a great neighbor and friend, she will be missed by many.

Chuck Hackman

November 16, 2015

One of the many outstanding teachers at Brandywine High School in the 70`s. Not a day goes by that I don`t appreciate your passion for teaching. You helped generations find success. Rest in peace Mrs. Toombs. Chuck Hackman BHS76

November 15, 2015

Signed Betty Arnold

November 15, 2015

Jean and I have been lifelong friends. We went to elementary school,junior high school, high school and college together. After college we stayed in touch by phone, letters, visits, and even went on some vacations together. We went to the beach,to a state park cabin in Kentucky, and went fishing on Sanibel Island.
I spent many hours at her house. We roamed the hills of West Virginia, walked the railroad tracks, rode our bikes, double-dated to the proms,etc. The last conversation we had a few days before she died was aboout her mother's ledgendary fruit cakes.I told her I was going to make a fruit cake and she told me I had to marinate the fruit in bourbon for twenty four hours. I was going to keep her posted on my progress but it wasn't to be. So, Jean, I made the fruitcake and my family ate it on Thursday night in your honor. I miss you already, my friend, but thank you for all the good memories.

J Murphy

November 15, 2015

I'm sorry to hear about Ms. Tombs passing. She was a wonderful teacher and a very compassionate person. My father passed away suddenly when I was a senior at BHS in '92 and I'll never forget the way she sat down and talked to me and made sure I was ok. Rest in peace...

Ernestine E

November 13, 2015

I had Ms Toombs at Wilmington U. Her excitement was contagious and positive spirit was infectious. Prayers of comfort for the Toombs family. Rest in Peace

November 13, 2015

Mrs. Toombs wit, humor, and patience, while teaching the Chef's class at Brandywine inspired a love for cooking that continues 40 years later. Her family should be proud of the passion her teaching inspired in so many students. Greg Hammond, BHS '75

Bill Blancahrd

November 12, 2015

You have left a lasting impression on me as a great teacher in culinary arts. Your insight and encouragement will be missed. Rest in peace Mrs. Toombs.

Charles Whealton

November 12, 2015

I had Mrs. Toombs as an English instructor when I attended the Delaware Technical Community College's Wilmington Campus. It would have been between 1988 and 1993! She was a really nice lady. A friend mentioned we had lost her. I'm very sorry to hear this.

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