SANFORD – Francis L. Topping, 94, died Friday evening, July 14, 2006, at his home. Mr. Topping was born Sept. 5, 1911, in Baileyville, the son of John and Elizabeth (Karkos) Topolosky. Mr. Topping was a native of Woodland and a graduate of St. Croix High School. He was a graduate of the University of Maine at Orono and served as principal of Stueben High School for four years. He then returned to the University of Maine for a graduate teaching fellowship in zoology. The majority of Mr. Topping’s teaching career was spent in the Sanford school district, after moving to the area in 1942. He taught the sciences at Sanford High School and was head of the science department there until his retirement in 1972. He took part in the Teacher Research Program at the Jackson Laboratories in Bar Harbor in 1960 and in the Marine Biology Institute at Bowdoin in 1962. Mr. Topping was honored as the Outstanding Biology Teacher in Maine by the National Association of Biology Teachers in 1965. Francis was an avid golfer and, in 1981, won the Maine Senior State Championship in the over 70 division. He was a communicant of St. Ignatius Church of Sanford, and was a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Predeceasing Mr. Topping was his wife of 63 years, Lucia (Hinkley) Topping. Surviving are two daughters, Nancy J. Westrack and her husband, Francis, of Winthrop and Helen F. Farnsworth and her husband, Richard, of Kennebunk; three grandchildren, Kevin Westrack, Kelly Richards and Dane Farnsworth; four great-grandchildren. The family thanks Laura Lenhart and her children, Rene, Philip and Joseph, for their love, dedication and exemplary care. A period of visitation for Mr. Topping will be held 6-9 p.m. Monday, July 17, at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main St., Springvale. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Ignatius Church, Sanford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to the Goodall Memorial Library, 952 Main St., Sanford, ME 04073. To leave a message of condolence online, please visit www.blackfuneralhomes.com
FRANCIS L. ‘TOPPY’ TOPPING
