Toby A. Griner

1938 - 2025

Toby Allen Griner, 87, died peacefully at his home in Navarre, FL on September 2, 2025.

Toby was born in Winston Salem, NC on July 18, 1938, to Alonzo and Nealie Griner. He lived in Walnut Cove, NC for 3 1/2 years. In 1941, Alonzo moved his family to Rocky Bayou, FL, near Niceville, where Toby lived until he left home for college. He graduated from Choctawhatchee Senior High School in 1956 and attended one year of college, 1957-1958, at the University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. He later attended Pensacola Junior College, graduating in 1970, and the University of West Florida, graduating in 1975 with a degree in Computer Sciences.

Toby met the love of his life, Linda Mae Kelley, in Pensacola, and they were married on January 19, 1979. Toby has three children from his first marriage, Kenney, Richard, and Jeff. Linda had one child, Joel, from her first marriage. They lived in Pensacola near the Naval Air Station where Toby worked as a Naval Aerospace Medical Technician.

Toby and Linda moved to Navarre, FL in 1987. He retired from Navy Civil Service in 1995 with 36 years of service. After retirement, Toby and Linda opened "Toby's Seafood Restaurant" in Navarre. Together they operated the restaurant for 10 years.

Toby had many close neighbors and friends. Toby and Linda joined the Navarre Beach Yacht Club and enjoyed all the boating outings. Especially noteworthy was the famous fish fry they did after the Blue Angel airshows. Toby was a charter member of the Holley-Navarre Elks Lodge 2787 where he served as Exalted Ruler in 2012. He loved his time as an Elk and is revered as a Past Exalted Ruler (PER). In 2016, Toby and Linda bought an RV and spent the rest of his days enjoying camping with close friends in the Northwest Florida Panhandle area and especially enjoyed being at Blackwater River State Park.

Toby is preceded in death by his father Alonzo Griner, 2005, mother, Nealie Griner, 2012, father-in-law, Ralph Kelley, 2002, and mother-in-law, Lila Kelley, 2011. Toby is survived by his wife Linda, sons Kenney, Richard (Brenda), Jeff, and Joel Wise (Heather), brothers Don (Carolyn), Rick (Maxanne), Mike (Sue), Reggie and sister Shirley Regan, sisters-in-law, Joyce Coker and Kathy Norwood, brother-in-law Donald Kelley, and numerous nieces and nephews. Toby was especially close to his niece Heather Wessel. Toby's grandchildren include Kenney's children Sarah and Ryan, Jeff's Children, Corbin (Shea), Dani (Eli), and Michell, and Joel's children Kyle Wise and Haley Stroehl (Cameron). Toby has three great grandchildren including Corbin's sons Nolan and Dean, and Haley's daughter Charlie Stroehl. Toby is also survived by his aunts Iva Pacini and Cleo Everidge, and his uncle Beal Griner. He has a large extended family with many cousins that he enjoyed visiting at the Griner Family Reunions at the Pond Creek community in Walton County.

Per Toby's wishes, his ashes will be scattered at his most favored locations. A Celebration of Life Service is planned for October 12, 2025, at the Holly-Navarre Elks Lodge beginning at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, Toby's family requests donation be made in his name to the charity of choice.

Toby A Griner