Manuel J. Toledo

1918 - 2016

Manuel J. Toledo

07/13/1918 - 01/30/2016

Tulare

Manuel Joseph Toledo

Manuel Toledo, an American patriot long known for his Veteran advocacy, passed away on Saturday, January 30, 2016, at his home in Tulare, CA, with his family at his side. Manuel had a warm, kind heart and was a man of integrity. He served his Country long after his tour of duty ended by helping hundreds of Veterans receive their rightful benefits for over 70 years.

Manuel was born in Farmersville, CA, to John G. and Carmelina Toledo on July 13, 1918. A short time later, his parents moved the family to Tipton, CA, where he was raised on a dairy farm. He was the oldest of 11 children; he had 2 brothers and 8 sisters. Manuel graduated from Elk Bayou School in Tipton, but he attended only few days at Tulare Union High School because he needed to help his father on the dairy. Eventually, on May 29, 2000, Manuel was presented with an Honorary Diploma from the TUHS Class of 1938.

On January 28, 1941, Manuel, along with 52 other local young men, joined the US Army and were expecting to be discharged on December 13; however, their time of service was extended by several years when Pearl Harbor as attacked on December 7, 1941. Although he had trained in the Mojave Desert under General George Patton and was supposed to be going to North Africa, after the ship moved from under the Golden Gate Bridge and headed out to sea, it was directed to the Aleutian Islands. The troops were clothed with unsuitable clothing for the cold, frozen terrain--Manuel suffered from frostbite and several combat wounds. He served in numerous campaigns, including Attu, Adak, Kiska, Marshall Islands, Kwajalein Atoll, and Leyte, where on October 29, 1944, he received a near deadly wound that sent him back to the States.

A 25mm mortar shell had blasted through a nearby banana tree and pushed a chunk of it through his chest. Fortunately, the shell did not explode, and Manuel, who was thought to be dead, was rescued from a group of mortally wounded, returned to the US, and was sent to Spokane, Washington, where several experimental surgeries were performed to repair the damage to his lungs. The damage to his upper right side left him partially paralyzed. He survived the surgeries, was given a prognosis of a few more years to live, and was discharged on July 13, 1945. Once home, he received therapy at the VA Hospital in Fresno; therapy that included repairing clocks and watches, which developed the dexterity necessary for his future occupation.

Manuel met Lorry Thomas on December 19, 1940, and were married on November 21, 1942. After he was discharged from the Army, he worked for a jeweler in Tulare, and within a few years Manuel and Lorry bought the jewelry business and owned Toledo's Jewelry for 62 years.

Manuel collected military memorabilia during the war, continued doing so after, and eventually had a substantial collection. He displayed the items in the basement of the Toledo building in 1987. Soon thereafter, he began receiving donations of military memorabilia from many other Veterans and their families. In the mid 1990's, he donated the entire collection to the Tulare Historical Society.

During his lifetime, Manuel was recognized with numerous awards and honors. He belonged to approximately 50 veterans, civic, and fraternal organizations. His devotion to Veterans was widely known and much appreciated--he often was called Mr. Veteran. In 2004, Manuel was approached to tell his life story and military experience. He did so and encouraged other Veterans to do the same. Manuel's story, "Two Families," can be viewed on the Digital Clubhouse Network/Stories of Service website. In October 2013, he was able to attend the Central Valley Honor Flight to Washington, DC, and very much enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow Veterans.

Manuel was preceded in death by his father John G. Toledo; mother Carmelina Toledo; brother Oliver Toledo; sister Mary Toledo Grant; sister Vera Toledo Menezes; brother John G. Toledo Jr.; granddaughter Rachelle Toledo; grandson Dennis Thompson; and grandson David Thompson.

Manuel is survived by his wife of 73 years, Lorry Toledo of Tulare; daughter Yvonne Toledo of Visalia; son Michael and his wife Rauleen of Hawaii; daughter Annette Toledo Eckert of Visalia; and daughter Michelle Toledo Cantrell and her husband Jeremy of Tulare.

In addition, he is survived by his sister Alice Toledo Simoes of Tulare; sister Carmaline Toledo Giotta of Visalia; sister Albertina Toledo Silva of Grover Beach; sister Eva Toledo Miguel and her husband Clarence of Tulare; sister Margaret Toledo Oliveira and her husband William of Lemoore; sister Roselyn Toledo Craft and her husband James of Corona; 13 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and approximately 250 nieces and nephews.

The Family wishes to thank Rhea Ann Enas for the loving care she gave and the compassion she showed Manuel during the past three months.

Viewing will be held from 4-8 pm, Monday, February 8, 2016, at Miller's Tulare Funeral Home. A Rosary and Mass will be held at 11 am, Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 125 E. Pleasant Avenue, Tulare, with burial following at Tulare District Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to the charity of your choice. Arrangements are entrusted to Miller's Tulare Funeral Home.