William D. Toten

William D. Toten, 72, died February 3, 2014 in Pampa. Vigil will be at 5:30 PM Thursday, February 6, 2014, at Carmichael-Whatley Colonial Chapel, and funeral mass will be at 10:30 Friday, February 7, 2014 at St. Vincent dePaul Catholic Church, with Rev. Christopher Schwind, associate pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery with military honors by the U. S. Army, Fort Hood, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mr. Toten was born December 10, 1941 in Muleshoe to William and Martha Toten. He attended schools in Muleshoe, Springlake-Earth and Dimmitt. He joined the U. S. Army in 1959 where he served in Fort Ord, California, Fort Gordon, Georgia, Fort Mead, Maryland, and Baumholder, Germany. William was also a member of the Army National Guard from 1972-1978, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. He married Susan Velasquez on November 21, 1964 in Panhandle. William was a welder for 25 years, working for Ingersoll Rand, Crall Products and on the farm. After a layoff from Ingersoll Rand, he attended the police academy in Amarillo and was a police officer and deputy sheriff for five years in Panhandle and Pampa. His favorite hobbies were karaoke, reloading ammo and shooting. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His greatest joy was his family, whom he was extremely proud of. William was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Melvin; and a sister, Louise. Survivors include his loving wife of forty-nine years, Susan Toten of the home; a son, Matthew Toten and wife Tammy of Ramona, California; a daughter, Maria Zamora and husband Manuel of El Paso; grandchildren, Johnny Dee Pairsh and wife Jordann and Monica Mosley and husband David, all of Richlands, North Carolina, Anthony Rios and Alyssah Zamora, both of El Paso, Randall Toten and Ryan Toten, both of Ramona, California; a great-granddaughter, Danni Jo Pairsh of Richlands, North Carolina; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and a host of nieces and nephews.