John Marshall Topham died at home in Westhampton on December 25. He was 94.
Born to John and Millicent Hunt Topham in Charleston, West Virginia, on September 16, 1919, he always called Wytheville, Virginia, his home. He attended St. Andrew’s School, Duke University and Roanoke College, where he met his wife of 74 years, Dorothy Emory, who died last year.
A construction engineer and consultant, he was an avid traveler, antique collector and author of “Traditional Arts and Crafts of Saudi Arabia,” based on his collection of Bedouin artifacts. His collections traveled to museums across the United States. Mr. Topham was known as an accomplished gardener with particular success growing heirloom tomatoes. Living in Virginia and Pittsford through most of his life, he moved with his wife to Westhampton in 2010 to be by their daughters and grandchildren.
Mr. Topham is survived by his children, John Topham of Switzerland, Anne Holsclaw of Pennsylvania, Pamela Topham of Sag Harbor, Nancy Mueller of North Carolina, Dee Topham of Rochester and Elizabeth Topham McCombe of Westhampton; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sisters, Janet Byrd of Georgia and Carol Griffith of North Carolina; and his caretaker, Tracy Godley of East Moriches.
Funeral arrangements were made by the Follett and Werner Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach and Grubb Funeral Home in Wytheville.
on Jan 13, 2014