Edgar A Topping's Obituary
Edgar Topping, 91, of St. Petersburg, FL made his transition peacefully January 30, 2017.
Edgar was born February 19, 1925 to the late Edgar and Isabelle Topping in Lawrence, MA. He joined US forces at the age of 18 in May, 1943 serving as a Private First Class with the US Army 11th Airborne. He was honorably discharged in January, 1946 after serving three years in the liberation of the Philippines from Japanese occupation in New Guinea, Luzon, and the Southern Philippines. He received the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign and Philippine Liberation Ribbons with Bronze Service Stars and Arrowheads.
After the war Edgar became a successful auto salesman, dedicating over 30 years of his life working at the iconic Hosmer Pontiac in Medford, MA and then other Pontiac and Buick dealerships throughout New England until retirement in St. Petersburg, FL in 1995.
Edgar lived a long, strong, and active life with his late wife, Janet Topping, for over 40 years. They enjoyed Sunday drives to Rockport, MA, and the annual traditions of apple picking and chopping down the Christmas tree at New Hampshire tree farms. Edgar’s favorite past times were fishing, antiques, and garage saleing. In his retirement years, Edgar was a talented and prolific pastel portrait artist, spending most of his time in his St. Petersburg, FL home studio drawing, matting, and framing his favorite subject – women.
Edgar is survived by three children - Dennis Topping of Wilmington, MA, Ronald Topping of Salem, NH, Carol Ann Martin, of Safety Harbor, FL and two step daughters, Kristen Fiato, and Karen Sousa of St. Petersburg, FL and his 11 grandchildren and 2 step-grandchildren. Edgar will join his two late sons - Kevin Topping, of Wilmington, MA, and Eddie Topping, of Lawrence, MA – in eternal rest at Wildwood Cemetary in Wilmington, MA on May 12, 2017.
A showing of Edgar’s favorite and most significant pastel works of art will be held at the Pinellas Park Art Society (5851 Park Blvd N, Pinellas Park, FL 33781) on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at 11:30am, where he faithfully participated in pastel art classes for over twenty years. Light snacks and beverages will be served during the showing.
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