Mr.
Charles Topper
Mr. Charles Rodgers "Top" Topper, 88, of
St. Catherine’s Nursing Home, Emmitsburg, formerly of
Mount Airy, died Sunday, Aug. 27, at Frederick Memorial
Hospital.
He was the husband of Evelyn Louise Stone Topper,
who died in 1984.
Born March 9, 1912, in Emmitsburg, he was the son of
the late Robert Lawrence and Ethel Gertrude Rodgers
Topper. Mr. Topper grew up in Emmitsburg where he served as
an alter boy at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
After high school he worked at the A&P grocery
store in Emmitsburg. In 1935 he was sent to manage the
A&P store in Mount Airy and took it over in the
early 1950s. When A&P closed the store, he opened
the Community Pure Food Store in its place. Known as
"Top’s Market," he owned and operated the
grocery store until his retirement in 1975.
He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Roman
Catholic Church, Frederick. He was a member of Mount Airy Lions Club, where he
served in numerous offices, including president.
He was an avid coin collector and was a member of
the Mount Airy Coin Club and the Libertytown Coin Club.
He is survived by a daughter, Patricia T. Norwood
and husband Wayne of Mount Airy; two granddaughters,
Cynthia Swanson and husband Kevin of Columbia, and
Angela Moore and husband Robert of Mount Airy; four
great-grandchildren, Chloe Swanson and Katherine
Swanson, both of Columbia, and Elizabeth Ann Moore and
Daniel Moore, both of Mount Airy; a brother, William L.
Topper and wife Carmen of Emmitsburg; a sister,
Kathleen Shorb of Emmitsburg; and numerous nieces and
nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Aug. 30
at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Frederick,
with the Rev. Daniel Nusbaum of Mount St. Mary’s
Seminary as celebrant. Interment was in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Frederick.
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