James Warner Topping, 82

DOVER - James Warner Topping, of Dover, departed this life on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008, in the Bayhealth-Kent General Hospital, Dover. He was 82.

Born on Feb. 15, 1925, in Onley, Va., he was the son of the late George and Madalene Topping.

He was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Air Force as a mechanic with the Tuskegee Airmen.

James liked to be called "Top," but was better known as "Warner."

His family moved to New Jersey in 1963, where he worked at Waterview Nursing Center as a technician until he retired in 1992 and moved to Dover in 1998.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, JoAnn Topping; six brothers; two sisters; and one aunt.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Geneva Topping; three sons and two daughters-in-law, James Warner Topping Jr. of Newark, N.J., Lisa Drummond of Columbia, Md., and Larry and Anita Drummond of Laurel, Md.; five daughters and three sons-in-law, Grace and Larry Needham of Chesapeake, Va., Shirley and Herbert Quaintance of Houston, Texas, Dianne and Ernest Barnard of Allenhurst, Ga., and Stephanie Berryhill of Accomac, Va.; three stepdaughters and three stepsons-in-law, Billie and Vincent Yarborough of Felton, Sharon and William Ratcliffe of Baltimore, and Doris and Emmanuel Parks of Greenbush, Va.; one stepson, William L. Duncan of Ellenwood, Ga.; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and friends.

Viewing will be from 9-11:45 a.m. Saturday in the Bennie Smith Funeral Home, 717 W. Division St., Dover.

Funeral services will be noon Saturday at the funeral home.

Interment will be in the Delaware Veterans Cemetery, Bear.