John Stanley Tootle

John Stanley Tootle, 75, of Birmingham, AL, entered eternal life peacefully on August 2, 2024, surrounded by his family.

Born on February 2, 1949, in Brunswick, GA to Laura Malvia Loretta (nee Rogers) Tootle and James Lawton Tootle, John was raised in Jesup, GA and graduated from Wayne County High School in 1967. He excelled academically and musically, performing in Southern garage bands including Chosen Few, Soul Sensation and Wheatstone Mission. John completed a B.A. and M.A. at Georgia Southern College, Ph.D. at Florida State University, and post-doc at the University of Alabama Birmingham, where he held various research positions in the Departments of Psychology, Neurobiology and Vision Science.

John married Wendy Louise Marsh-Tootle, and they raised three amazing sons (Joseph Andrew, Robert Aaron, and John Walker) in Birmingham, AL. John's passions were his family, his music, and outdoor sports including hiking, canoeing and baseball. John was a talented pianist who enjoyed the works of Schubert and Chopin, sang tenor at Cahaba Heights Methodist Church, and enjoyed playing his mandolin on the back porch. He was a leader for Boy Scout Troop 213, coached baseball for each of his sons, and was a two-time UAB Intramural Co-Ed Softball champion with the Department of Psychology's team, the PsychoBats. He was an avid supporter of his mother's genealogical work and once complimented her charting as "worthy of Pascal."

Devoted to his family and friends, John is best remembered for his efforts to make the people around him happy. His gentle spirit and perpetual smile endeared him to all who knew him. A true gentleman who was grateful for all his blessings, he never bemoaned his final protracted battle with PCA Alzheimer's.

John is survived by his wife Wendy, their sons Joseph (Chelsea) and their children Constance Ann and Elizabeth Lee of Bronxville, NY, Robert (Helen Hunter) of Atlanta, GA, and John Walker (Lindsey) of Cincinnati, OH, siblings Karen Tootle Fender of Albany, GA, Susan Tootle Renfrow (Bubba) of Statesboro, GA, Jimmy (Jan) Tootle of Jesup, GA, Janet Tootle Royal (John) of Screven, GA and Mark (Lori) Tootle of Odum, GA, nephews John Fender, Trip Renfrow, Blair Renfrow, Jay Tootle, Matthew Tootle, Rob Royal, Daniel Royal, Sid Royal, Adam Tootle, and Josh Tootle and nieces Julie Fender Harris, Amy Tootle Langley, and Sallie Royal Tyre. Also survived by in-laws David (Katherine) Marsh of Rockford, IL, Julie (Ted Domino) Marsh of St Louis, MO and Laura Marsh (Bill) Beltrame of Brookfield, WI and nephews Ryan Marsh, Bart Domino, Alex Domino, and nieces Jennifer Marsh Coan, Hannah Domino Masek, Alyssa Beltrame, Angela Beltrame Sowder and Amanda Beltrame Farrokhnia.

Services will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Rinehart and Sons Funeral Home (860 Highway 301 South, Jesup, GA 31546) with nephew Reverend John Fender officiating and music by John Fender and John W Tootle. Visitation will begin at 10:00. Interment will follow in the Liberty Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Children's Vision International or Seven Hills Baroque are appreciated.