Genevieve Elaine ‘Jenny’ Toombs, 98, of Portsmouth, passed away on Friday, November 14, 2025, at The Courtyard at Wheelersburg. She was born on March 20, 1927, in Peoria, IL, to the late John Beath and Mary Loucille Wisner Tetlow.
A graduate of Columbus North High School, Jenny earned a Bachelor’s in Education from The Ohio State University in 1949. While at OSU, she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority.
On June 10, 1950, Jenny married Dr. Miller Frederick Toombs at Maple Grove Methodist Church in Columbus. The couple had been married for 64 years at the time of his death on March 7, 2015.
Jenny taught school in Worthington, OH, and in Houston, TX. However, her greatest legacy to education is the endowment of the former Dr. Miller F. And Genevieve Toombs Children’s Learning Center at Shawnee State University. Hundreds of area children were given an outstanding foundation for learning by the creation of this exceptional pre-school. Jenny taught French to the children at the CLC for three years, and she took delight in stopping by the school to see them. She always enjoyed sending her friends short stories that she had written herself.
The Toombs family attended All Saints Episcopal Church, where Jenny had been an active member in her younger years. She was also a member of the former Twig 13, a guild that raised funds for pediatric, homelessness, and domestic violence issues. She was a president of the former Scioto County Medical Society and its membership chair, and a docent and Board of Directors member of the Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center. Jenny had a lovely doll and toy collection which she enjoyed sharing, and she enjoyed tending to her flower garden, especially the iris and jonquils. She once earned the distinction of catching the “Biggest Pike of the Year” while fishing on Lake Temagami, Ontario, a favorite family destination.
Surviving is her daughter, Virginia ‘Ginny’ Susan Bedard of McDermott; five grandchildren, Zak (Natalie) Bedard, Brianna Bedard, Christian (Dawn) Toombs, Erica Toombs and Tyler (Ashley) Toombs; and seven great-grandchildren, Gavin, Gracyn, Eli, Millie and Rexly Toombs, and Gigi and Archie Bedard.
Jenny was also preceded in death by her son, John Frederick ‘Rick’ Toombs; and her brother, John Beath Tetlow.
Arrangements are pending at this time.
Memorial contributions may be made to All Saints Episcopal Church, 610-4th St., Portsmouth, OH 45662.
