CHICOPEE – Donald DeLoss Topping, 99, of the Fairview section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on Tuesday, March 14, 2017. He passed into Eternal Life at home in the early morning hours of a snowstorm surrounded by all the memories that he loved and cherished. He was born at home in Oil City, Pennsylvania during a snowstorm on December 8, 1917, the second youngest of seven children of the late Earl and Teressa (Derby) Topping. He served his country and went on to become a meteorologist in the United States Army Air Corps and the United States Air Force. He served during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Donald was a true athlete and was an excellent tennis and golf player for most of his long life. He married his one true love, Berdina Carson, on October 3, 1942 and at that time he discovered that Mildred was his bride’s given name. In 1946, Donald and Mildred “Berdina” welcomed their only child, daughter Donna Jean Topping. Donald’s military career took him around the world. Most often with his family, Donald was stationed in Alaska, Paris, Germany, Guam, Florida, California, Thailand, the Philippines and Tripoli, Libya. After his last tour of duty where he was stationed at Westover Air Force Base in 1963, Donald decided to settle permanently in Chicopee where daughter Donna married her first husband, Harold Browning. Together, Donna and Harold presented her parents with three lovely granddaughters, Deborah, Sherri, and Kristin. He retired from the military in 1969 and went on to receive an Associate’s Degree in Accounting from Holyoke Community College. He was a member of the American Legion Post 275 in Chicopee Falls and was a member of the Military Officers Association. Later in life, Donald found a new calling as caregiver to his youngest granddaughter, Kristin. Donald often surprised his granddaughters with his boldness, wit, and humor - riding roller coasters at Disney World, answering most Jeopardy questions correctly and even learning to dance to “The Running Man” from Kristin’s favorite band, New Kids on the Block. Often described by friends and family as, “The best man I’ve ever known”, Donald was a true gentleman -impeccably polite and always considerate of others. He lived a life of honor, integrity and kindness. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Mildred Berdina (Carson) Topping who was Called Home on September 19, 2010. They were blessed with over 67 years of happiness together. He leaves his loving daughter, Donna and her husband, Robert G. Cote, of Chicopee; his former son-in-law, Harold W. Browning, Jr.; his three cherished granddaughters, Deborah Brunelle and her husband, John, of Holyoke, Sherri Browning Erwin and her husband, Sean, of Simsbury, CT and Kristin Lynn Browning Hall and her husband, Rudolph, of South Hadley; and his six cherished great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Elissa Erwin, Rebecca, Allison and Samantha Brunelle, and Remington Hall; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and extended members of the Topping and Carson families. In addition to his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by his two dear brothers, Harold “Bill” Topping and Howard Topping; and his four dear sisters, Lois Stack, Eunice Linehan, Edith Sobina and Lucille Rennard. His family is grateful for his guidance, wisdom and outstanding good humor. They will miss him tremendously. His funeral services will be private at the convenience of his family. There are no visiting hours at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Fairview Chapels, (413-533-3307), 506 Britton Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For those who prefer, his family requests that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Soldier’s Home in Holyoke Activity Fund, 110 Cherry Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. For more details, please visit:
www.stpierrephaneuf.com