Charles E. Topping Jr.
Executive, Army Reserve officer, Mendham civic leader, magician
Charles E. Topping Jr., 88, of Mendham, N.J., passed away peacefully on Oct. 16, 2018, at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, N.J.
Visitation will be held at Bailey Funeral Home in Mendham on Sunday, Oct. 21, from 1 to 5 p.m. The Funeral Mass will take place on Monday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m. at the Church of St. Joseph in Mendham. Interment will be at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury, N.Y.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on April 23, 1930, to parents Charles and Anne Topping (nee McBride), Charles grew up in the Mill Basin neighborhood of Brooklyn. As a child, he attended P.S. 236 in Mill Basin and graduated from Midwood High School in Brooklyn.
He went on to graduate from Norwich University in Vermont as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army with a B.A. in business administration in 1954, and attended New York University for his graduate work in finance.
Charles had an impressive career, both as a manager for 38 years at New York Telephone and AT&T, and retired as a major in the U.S. Army Reserve after 21 years of honorable service.
He was a devout parishioner and usher of St. Joseph Church in Mendham. As one of the founders of the Mendham Borough Historical Society, he also served as president and trustee.
Charles was active on the Mendham Borough Planning Board, and held a seat on the Open Space Committee. He was a professional magician, and a proud member of the Society of American Magicians. He was an avid numismatist, contributed to important work on his family genealogy, and had a strong passion for playing poker. The only thing more impressive than his resume was his love for and devotion to his family.
Charles was predeceased by his loving wife of 61 years, Dorothy M. Topping. He is survived by his two children, Brian and Kimberly Topping; daughter-in-law, Mimi Topping; granddaughter, Elizabeth Gray and her husband, Daniel Gray; grandson, Jack Topping, and granddaughter, Anna Topping.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, 44 Blackburn Rd., Summit, N.J. 07901, or to the Mendham Borough Historical Society, 2 West Main St., Mendham, N.J. 07945.