John W. Topping

      John W. Topping , 95, of 807 W. Taylor Ave., died at 3 p.m. Monday, March 17, 2003, at Nelson Nursing Home.

      The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Birmingham Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Richard Eis officiating. Burial will be in Winchester Cemetery, southwest of Birmingham.

      The family will receive friends from 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday at Raymond Funeral Home.

      A memorial has been established to the Birmingham Presbyterian Church.

      Mr. Topping was born March 6, 1908, south of Birmingham, the son of Samuel Foster and Rosenna Elizabeth Sherod Topping. He married Ava Dingus May 18, 1929. She died Feb. 11, 1997.

      Mr. Topping was a farmer and worked for 10 years at Fairfield Engineering. When he retired, he and his wife moved to Fairfield. His pastimes included fishing, bowling and working with wood.

      Mr. Topping was a member of Birmingham Presbyterian Church, where he served as elder, deacon, teacher and Sunday school superintendent. He also was a member of Farm Bureau.

      Survivors include five daughters, Alice Parsons and husband Neil of Houston, Texas, Doris Hestbech and husband Bob of Des Moines, Janet Calvin of Burlington, Margaret Wilson and husband David of Fairfield, and Connie Wells and husband David of Fairfield; two sons, John William Topping Jr. and wife Betty of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Robert Topping and wife Mary of Durant; 27 grandchildren; 44 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

      Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and one brother.