Frank A. ‘Sonny’ Toth – Monongahela
Frank A.
‘Sonny’ Toth
April 10, 1956 – Nov. 16, 2023
Frank A. “Sonny” Toth, 67, a lifelong resident of Monongahela, passed away on Nov. 16, 2023, in his home after a three-year battle with cancer. Sonny was born April 10, 1956, in New Eagle. He grew up at the Mounds where he played peanut and Little League Baseball and learned to play tennis. Upon entering high school, Ringgold had no tennis team. Sonny and his friend and fellow tennis buff from the Mounds, Mark Magone, circulated a petition to start a boys’ tennis team. They presented the petition to the school board and were successful in creating the team. Sonny taught tennis lessons at the Mounds and was one of the top players in the WPIAL on a team coached by Mr. Keith McMonagle. After graduating from Ringgold High School, Monongahela Campus, in 1974, Sonny attended California State College (currently PennWest California) on a tennis scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in industrial arts/drivers ed in 1979. Sonny started his teaching career at Baldwin High School, teaching industrial arts and coaching tennis in 1979. Then, as teaching jobs were scarce, he worked for New Castle battery selling commercial batteries (1979 to 1981) until he got his next teaching position where he taught photography at Bethel Park High School from 1981 to 1984. He also photographed weddings professionally, oftentimes for friends and family without charging. In 1984, Sonny began teaching at Ringgold High School. While there, he taught industrial arts, drafting, CAD/CAM, driver’s theory and driver’s education. He coached the boys tennis team for nine years. He also served as the high school building representative and grievance chair for many years with the Ringgold Education Association (REA). Sonny retired in 2017 after 34 years of teaching. He was a most talented individual with many interests and hobbies. He was a master woodworker and built beautiful furniture. He enjoyed traveling, photography, music, woodworking, and sports, especially golf, baseball and tennis. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing at his house in the mountains. He also loved gardening and shared what he grew with others. He enjoyed skiing and was especially fond of trips out West. Sonny loved music and attended many concerts. He also enjoyed horse racing and attended many horse races. His love for animals was evidenced by the many strays that he rescued and adopted. Sonny put a smile on the faces of those who knew him. He sprinkled humor on the many lives he touched. He will be forever loved and missed. Surviving are his longtime companion, Alicia Richey; a sister, Janice E. Holton, a niece, Keri Holton, a nephew, Lance Holton, all of North Huntington; two aunts, Marlene (Toth) Cunningham of Mars, and Sandy (Toth) Hill of Aiken, S.C.; and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Frank J and Rosalie Rostcheck Toth. Friends will be received from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, at MARSHALL MARRA FUNERAL HOME, 216 Chess St., Monongahela, where a service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. Interment will follow in the Monongahela Cemetery. Condolences can be made online at marshallmarrafuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to the Washington County Humane Society, 1527 Route 136, Eighty Four, PA 15330 or to “Mark J. Magone and Frank ‘Sonny’ Toth Memorial Tennis Court Fund,” please make checks payable to “Memorial Tennis Fund” c/o cfsbank, 1220 W. Main St., Monongahela, PA, 15063 to help build a tennis court at the Mounds again.
