William Topping Obituary

William Ray "Bill" Topping Jr.

Pastor William R. (Veley) Topping Jr., 86, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy Retired, passed into Eternity on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, to be with his Eternal Creator, Father, and God. He was a resident of Seminole, Florida (1977).

He was born Dec. 16, 1936, in Delaware, Ohio. He experienced a second birth Feb. 23, 1961. He was born again when he opened the door of his soul and invited the Lord Jesus Christ to come into his being and direct his life for Eternity (the most important decision ever made).

His parents, William R. Topping Sr. and Ruth Ann Veley of Bloomdale and Delaware, Ohio, were farmers and preceded him in death. He was raised a Buckeye Farm Boy. He had two sisters, Sharon Ellis (deceased) of Denton, Texas, and Margaret Peyton (deceased) of Frederick, Maryland. He married Saundra I. Powell of Findlay on Oct. 9, 1954, at United Methodist Church, Van Buren, and she preced him in death. They had six children. He then married Elizabeth E. Weaver-Miller (widow) of Maryville, Tennessee, on Sept. 10, 1978, at First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks, Largo, Florida.

His children are Pastor Craig C. Topping, Master Chief Petty Officer, USN Ret. (Vicky) of Live Oak, Florida, Cheryl L. Young of Live Oak, Florida, Emmitt A. Topping II, Senior Chief Petty Officer, USN Ret. (Heather) of Nashville, Tennessee, William R. Topping III, Army Veteran of Dublin, Georgia, Michael G. Topping Sr., Lieutenant Commander, USN Ret. (Delores) of Dumfries, Virginia, Pastor Jeffrey L. Topping Sr., Command Sergeant Major, FLARNG Ret. (Ann) of Mount Blanchard, and Timothy J. Topping, FLARNG Veteran (Tiffany) of Live Oak, Florida.

His stepchildren are Jeffery C. Miller of Seminole, Florida, Lyman O. Miller of Seminole, Florida, Rosa J. Gaston (Rich) of New Port Richey, Florida, and Mark B. Miller of Clearwater, Florida. He also had numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. He loved children. He loved his family.

He graduated from high school in Van Buren in 1954. School activities included Boy Scouts, sports, 4-H Club, Future Farmers of America, Church, and Grange. Upon graduation, he entered U.S. Navy as a Seaman Recruit (Korean War). He retired as a Lieutenant Commander to enter The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

Schools included The George Washington University, Naval Schools: Hospital Corpsman Medical School, X-Ray Technician School, and School of Hospital Administration, Officers Candidate School, and numerous schools and clinics. He did two tours in Vietnam. He was a disabled American Veteran as a result of contact with Agent Orange (Vietnam). He loved his country.

His greatest achievement in life was serving his Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ. Serving with the congregation in the local church was his life. He loved people. He was a Pastor of churches in Virginia, Kentucky, and Florida. He was a Pastor Emeritus of Norwood Baptist Church, St. Petersburg, Florida. He also served churches in various associate positions. He sought to live his life by the Lord's promise found in the Book of Psalms: 84:12 â€" "O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in you" (the Lord) (KJV). His personal testimony was always centered on who he trusted with his life and the destiny his Creator Father had planned for him.

All arrangements will be handled by his appointed executors, sons Jeffrey Miller and Michael Topping Sr. A memorial service in his honor will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, at The Lighthouse at Friendship Baptist Church, 4001 7th St. N., St. Petersburg, Florida.

A private interment will be at a later date at Marlborough (family) Cemetery, Delaware, Ohio.

His final message would be: Glory to my Father â€" Praise ye the Lord. If you want to know Him, "seek Him and He will find you!"