Roll Call Tribute

Toby Jason Chandler

July 31, 1934 - May 25, 2022

Toby Jason Chandler was born July 31, 1934 in Groesbeck, Texas. Toby was called to heaven on May 25th, 2022 at 6:00 a.m. while peacefully resting at his Westlake Hills, Texas home surrounded by his loved ones.

Toby grew up in Thrall, Texas raised by his beloved grandparents Jason and Rosa Walker Chandler. At 16 years of age, he was accepted to Texas A&M University where he became a member of the Aggie Corp of Cadets and the Caption of the Aggie pistol team. He graduated with his Bachelor’s of Science Business Administration degree in 1955. In 1956 he enlisted in the US Army where he graduated from the Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was selected and commissioned as a Lieutenant of Field Artillery. After two years of field service, he attended the Military Intelligence Officer’s Court at Fort Holibird, Maryland, where he was reassigned as Captain of Military Intelligence.

In 1959 he began his 22-year distinguished career as a United States Secret Service Agent. At 26 years of age, he became the youngest agent assigned to the elite team directly protecting The White House. From 1959 until 1965 he was assigned to the personal details of President Dwight Eisenhower, President John F. Kennedy, and President Lyndon B. Johnson.

In 1962 Toby was a supervisor of the security plan for the visit of President John F. Kennedy, at the time the President addressed the Cuban assault brigade. From 1965 until 1970 he was a criminal investigator assigned to various field offices across the country. In 1970 he was the leader of the advance team escorting Vice President Spiro Agnew to the war zone in Vietnam. He was then promoted to the Vice-Presidential staff and supervisory assignments on two more trips to Vietnam and one to the demilitarized combat zone in Korea.

In August 1963 he became the doting father of Jason McDade Chandler and in February of 1968 his darling daughter Pele Ann Chandler was born. He adored both of his children and was an amazing father.

From 1973 until 1981 he was the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service Houston, Texas office where he was the supervisor of criminal investigations and presidential protective operations. During this time, he managed law enforcement and the intelligence activities in over 39 counties, with over 4 million persons, including coverage of the United States Space Station Center at Houston, Texas.

Toby married the love of his life Anna Lee Reneau on October 22, 1977 in Austin, Texas. With this marriage, he gained an additional three children; Terrell, Rhonda, and Sandra Perkins whom he treasured. During their 45 year marriage, Toby and Ann traveled the world together making beautiful memories. Ann will miss his morning kiss when bringing her coffee each morning in bed. He was a devoted, loving husband to her and treated her like a queen.

Upon his retirement from The United States Secret Service in 1981, he founded his own private consulting company, Salvar, Inc. which offered top level protective services. His private company worked for: a major United States oil exploration company with locations in six South American countries, a Governor of Texas during his re-election campaign, CBS News and their journalist Dan Rather, as well as securing the recovery and transportation of raw gold from mines in the Alaskan wilderness. He served as a staff instructor at the Arab Center for Security Studies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where he trained and taught members of the Saudi Royal Guard. He traveled to secure heads of nations, Princes and various celebrities when called upon and finally concluded his career as head of security for the world-renowned minister Billy Graham and his son Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan’s Purse international Christian relief organization. In 2018 Toby retired from his private security firm at the age of 84.

Thru the years, his passions were restoring and rebuilding World War II Military vehicles with original parts obtained from several trips to Normandy. Several of his restorations have been donated to the Museum at Camp Mabry, Austin, TX. He was an avid hunter and hunted all over the world with his large group of hunting buddies. Ann and Toby enjoyed much of their time at what he called “The Palace”, their home in Nogal, New Mexico where friends and family were always welcome. When his grandson Steven Paul Martinez was born in 1982, Toby was called “Granddad” and enjoyed the role of mentoring to his grandson. When his granddaughter Kaylee Alyssa Perkins was born in 1995, Toby became her “Big Boy” and he loved teaching her things like; how to handle a firearm, drive a jeep, but most importantly about how far a degree would take her in life. He was a very strong advocate of education and made sure that all his children and grandchildren went to college. He was elated when his son Jason and his grandson Steven chose Texas A&M University. His daughter Sandra and granddaughter Kaylee attended The University of Texas at Austin – which began the never-ending jokes and puns between the Longhorn and Aggie rivalry. He was very proud when each of them completed college and especially proud when his “Princess” Kaylee Perkins became the first in the family to obtain her Master’s Degree.

Toby was preceded in death by his beloved grandfather and namesake, Jason M. Chandler, and his devoted grandmother Rosa Walker Chandler. His loving mother, Mary Nell Chandler Boren and her husband Robert Boren as well as his precious daughter Pele Ann Chandler. He is survived by his wife Anna Lee Reneau Chandler, children Jason McDade Chandler, Terrell Perkins, Rhonda Perkins Martinez, and Sandra Perkins, along with his two grandchildren Kaylee Perkins and Steven Martinez. He is also survived by sister Janet Boren Nuckolls, her husband Heath Nuckolls, and their daughters Christina and Katherine.

Friends and family are cordially invited to a visitation with the family for a viewing on Monday May 30th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Cook-Walden funeral home 6100 North Lamar Blvd, Austin, Texas, 78752 where the funeral will be held on Tuesday May 31st at 10 a.m. Following his service, Toby will be laid to rest beside his daughter and grandparents at The Faulkenberry Cemetery in Groesbeck, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, for those who wish to send a memorial gift in honor of Toby, his beloved organization was “The Samaritan’s Purse” an entity that provides spiritual and physical aid to people around the world.