"Glenn Toothman Jr., longtime Greene Co. judge, dies at age 81

Waynesburg - Greene County Commissioner Farley Toothman said his father "walked the walk of service above self and tried to lead this community for years."

That, and perhaps his 20 years as Greene County judge, serving without regard to anything other than what should be done, will be the legacy Glenn Toothman Jr. will leave.

Judge Toothman, 81, of 114 West Wayne Street, Waynesburg, died Sunday, November 18, 2001, in his home. He had been in declining health.

When George Albert, one of Judge Toothman's closest friends, mentioned at a coffee klatch Monday that the judge had died the night before, "to a man, there was not a single rejection of any of the things he had done," Albert said.

"For a man as prominent as he was, one would think negativity would go along with popularity, but that wasn't the case," Albert said. "It was so pleasing there was not a single negative remark."

Judge Toothman was born August 9, 1920, in Clarksburg, W. Va., a son of Glenn and Elsie Rees Toothman. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Waynesburg and was a 1938 graduate of Victory High School, where he was an all-star football player.

Judge Toothman graduated from Hampton-Sydney College in 1942 and was a 1949 graduate of Washington and Lee Law School in Virginia.

He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II, entering as a private in 1942 and serving until 1946, earning the rank of major. He served two years in the Pacific Theater.

Judge Toothman returned to Greene County to practice law and served the county as district attorney for two terms. He later served as Common Pleas Court judge in Waynesburg for two terms.

One of Albert's first recollections of Judge Toothman was his first race for district attorney. "I was basically non-political, but I was caught up by his magnetism. I supported him in that election, and our friendship just grew after that."

Albert, 78, and retired from the building and remodeling industry, recalled a time that as a businessman, he occupied a building that was Greene County's first courthouse.

"That made Toothman envious. He was a judge and had to use the county courthouse, and I was a businessman and I had my own private courthouse," 

Bill Throckmorton said he could not have had a better brother-in-law. Throckmorton's sister, Katherine married Judge Toothman on April 3, 1942. They celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary next year [sic this year].

"He was an exceptionally goal oriented person," Throckmorton said. "He was just a pleasant person to be around."

Throckmorton said he and the judge became closer after both retired. Throckmorton had been a teacher and served as principal for 25 years at West Greene High School.

"We were relatives, but more important, we were friends. The judge was very unique. He got along with the top, and he got along with the bottom," Throckmorton said.

"And he got along with the voters because he never lost an election."

Surviving, in addition to the judge's wife, are a daughter, Ellan Toothman of Waynesburg; three sons, Harry Toothman of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Glenn III and Farley Toothman, both of Waynesburg; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a sister, Betty Halvorsen of West Sedona, Ariz.; and three brothers, James Toothman, of State College, Fred Toothman of Huntington, W. Va., and Dr. Lee Toothman, of Jupiter, Fla.

A grandson, Stephen Michael Toothman, is deceased."