Maureen Louise Tolson, 83, of Lompoc, passed away on Saturday, February 22, 2025, in ICU at Cottage Hospital with her longtime friend, Bob Forinash at her side.

Maureen was born on March 13, 1941, in San Jose, California, and adopted by Luella Langdon Murphy and Charles Arnold Murphy.

She was raised and educated in San Jose, California, where she graduated from Los Gatos High School.  She worked for Lockheed and then began California State University San Jose earning a bachelor's degree in Home Education and Spanish.  She worked at Westinghouse Electric and then Lockheed MSC Coyote where she met and married Air Force Major Joel Albert Tolson in 1967.  She continued her education at California State University Long Beach, earning teaching credentials in Florida (1972), Maryland (1976) and a life credential in California.  Her classroom teaching for twenty-eight years in the Lompoc Unified School District in Spanish and Home Economics ended with retirement in 2012.

Her husband, Joel Tolson, had passed away in 1997.  Maureen earned citations of honor from the California Association FHA Hero program in home economics and continued in prominent community involvement.  She held offices in Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau, CalRTA, DKG Iota Nu, the Alpha Club, the AAUW, LOVARC, and the Iris Society.

She is now in the hands of God with her husband Joel, her parents-Lluela and Charles, and her beloved k9 companions, who preceded her in death.

Survivors include her brother Richard Murphy of New River, Arizona, her dear longtime friend, Dr. Bob Forinash, and Lola, her wonderful canine companion.

Maureen lived a wonderful life that was challenged by cancer which she overcame to continue her accomplishments and her love of all the people with whom she served.

Per her request, the mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 11, at 10:00 am at Queen of Angels Catholic Church.  The internment with her husband at the Lompoc Cemetery will be followed by a reception at the Starbuck-Lind Event Center from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.