Otto (Toby) Walraven

Otto (Toby) Walraven, age 91 of Calhoun, passed away on Monday, December 7, 2015 at his residence. Otto was born on March 22, 1924 in Gordon County to the late Joe Walraven and Mary Griffin Walraven. He was a member of the First Apostolic Ministries Church. Otto bought, sold and trained mules for the past 80 years and was a member of the Saddle and Harness Club. People would come from all over the Southeast to buy mules from him. Mules were a hobby he really enjoyed, having farmed all his life. He was a lifelong resident of Gordon County and drove the school bus for Red Bud School and the vocational bus for 20 years, never missing a day of work. He also worked at Crown Craft Mills and JanyJo for 20 years. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Chastity Walraven; eleven brothers and sisters, Frank Walraven, Claude Walraven, Ruby Evans, Myrtle Plott, Earnest Walraven Roy Walraven, Carlton Walraven, Bertha Mae Holcomb, Fred Walraven, Bessie Lee Faith and Bill Walraven. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Walraven; three sons, Walt Walraven and his wife Wanda, Joey Walraven and his wife Sharon and Tony Edwards and his wife Donna; two daughters, Pamela Franklin and her husband Dewayne and Janice Copeland; eleven grandchildren, Candi Walraven, Stephanie Walraven, Christan Walraven, Autumn Walraven, Amanda Rhodarmer, Shea Seymore, Weston Walraven, Robert Copeland, Dawn Franklin and April Edwards; and eight great grandchildren, Taylor Stone, Wil Walraven, Brynley Walraven, Ella Walraven, Kennedy Newton, Hudson Walraven, Langston Newton and Ryan Rhodarmer. Funeral Services will be conducted on Thursday, December 10th at 2:00 PM from Antioch Baptist Church with Dr. Larry Hibberts and Rev. Terry Timms officiating. Interment will follow in Mount Pleasant Cemetery with Rev. Hershel Pierce officiating. Pallbearers serving include Weston Walraven, Phillip McDaniel, Tony Burrel, Mark Chadwick, Lewis Stanley, Freddie Faith, Barry Walraven, Thomas Dobson, Alvis Allen and Johnny Poole. Honorary Pallbearers will be granddaughters, nephews, and Jerry Defore, Austin Dobson, Ralph (Bud) Faulkinberry, Jack Long and Tapestry Hospice staff. The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening, December 9th from 5:00 until 8:00 PM at Thomas Funeral Home. You may leave the family online condolences at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com Thomas Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Otto (Toby) Walraven.